Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) water-pumping systems have considerable cost-effective value in rural zones. Virtual flow rate (VFR) meter is a technique to measure the water flow rate through a water pump using a numerical method as a function of the pump head, motor power, and overall efficiency of the pump. VFR meter eliminates the need for rotor speed sensors in PV water pumping systems. In this paper, the virtual flow meter is proposed as a novel reference for improving maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms for PV water-pumping systems. VFR meter removes the expensive flow meter sensors, hence, reducing the overall costs of the system. The VFR will be represented as a new variable in the MPPT algorithm. By replacing the voltage with the instantaneous VFR, the system will operate based on the variation of the VFR meter measurements. Using the physical parameters of a submersible Brushless DC motor pump-based PV water-pumping system, a mathematical model is derived to obtain the input voltage to MPPT algorithm as a function of the instantaneous flow rate. The model is implemented by Mat lab/Simulink software and the results reveal the applicability and efficiency of using the virtual flow meter in MPPT algorithms.
Highlights
THE solar energy can be classified into three main categories; PV-power systems, concentrated solar power, and photo-thermal systems
A test system is used to study the impact of applying Virtual flow rate (VFR) meter on output power, rotor speed, and mechanical torque
RESULT DISCUSSION The virtual flow metering technique has proved its ability to improve the overall performance of the PV water pumping system cost-effectively
Summary
THE solar energy can be classified into three main categories; PV-power systems, concentrated solar power, and photo-thermal systems. The stand-alone PV system is often used to deliver electric power to rural areas. It consists of PV arrays, a battery bank, a charge controller, and an inverter. The water flow sensors are expensive and require periodic maintenance which increases the overall initial and operating costs of the PV water pumping system. VFR can be applied to the MPPT algorithm as a new reference for operating the system It can replace rotor speed control as a new and efficient approach. The data required for water-pumping systems include the electric power of the system, total dynamic head, the efficiency of the water pump, and real flow rate
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