EFFECT OF TECHNICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS ON THE PV GENERATOR SIZE FOR WATER PUMPING IN EGYPT

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on the optimal sizing method developed by the author, the effects of the pump efficiency, the electrical efficiency, minimum and maximum water storage, load variation, solar intensity, and ambient air temperature were studied. Results showed that changing the pump efficiency from 20% to 35% will reduce the generator size from 15 to 8.6 kW peak, while changing the electrical efficiency from 55% to 90% will change the generator peak power from 15.5 to 10 kW. Changing the minimum storage capacity from 250 m3 to 2500 m3 will reduce the generator size from 10.84 to 10 kW, while changing the maximum storage capacity from 250 to 2500 m3 will increase the generator size from 10 to 10.84 kW peak. Changing the location from north Egypt to south will lead to generator size variation of about 23% due to change of ambient air temperature and solar intensity. Finally the study showed that for load variation from zero to +/- 75% from the mean yearly load the generator size increase will reach 30% with the minimum value at +/- 27.5% load variation.