Effect of seasonal variation on the performance of solar photovoltaic pumping system under field conditions

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to analyse the performance of solar photovoltaic (SPV) pumping system parameters, under different seasons. The average flow rate in summer, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter season was 3.0, 2.17, 3.44 and 2.93 Lps, respectively. The average conversion efficiency in summer, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter season was 14.36, 15.13, 17.04 and 16.85%, respectively. The range of optimum panel temperature should be between 12-32°C at which conversion efficiency will be maximum varying from 18.39-21%. During smog the average solar irradiance and flow rate decreased from 828 W/m2 to 393 W/m2 and 3.09 Lps to 1.59 Lps, respectively, as compared to before smog conditions. The presence of clouds significantly affected/lowered down the current, RPM and flow rate but the temperature did not change much which reveals that temperature has minimum effect on the development of current and voltage in solar photovoltaic cells.