Analysis of an irrigation pump driver fed by solar PV panel

Abstract

This work is a part of a project of a research group deals with solving a local irrigation problem in our country. The problem is how to furnish an electric power suitable to drive an irrigation pump for agricultural purposes in isolated areas using solar PV panels. This paper includes the simulation and analysis of a variable speed drive of a 3-phase, 220V, 50Hz, 5.4hp, submersed; squirrel cage induction motor fed by a solar PV panel through DC/DC converter controlled by a maximum power point tracker (MPPT), and DC/AC converters controlled by a space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique through a Sensorless field oriented control. This motor equipped with a centrifugal submersible pump drawing water from deep Wells in remote areas during daylight. This speed Sensorless driver must overcome the high starting current problem and deals with the low illumination periods during the day. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of the PV panels is considered also. Speed Sensorless field oriented control (FOC), Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) Technique, and Matlab computer package are adopted for this purpose. The simulation results perform a design guidelines and a good database source to implement the prototype of this system by the research group taking into consideration the day light variations in all seasons in Iraq.