Solar Pump Research Articles

Factors influencing farmers’ adoption of solar water-pumping systems in Gujarat

Abstract Agriculture has played an important role in the growth of the Indian economy. Water and electricity are essential inputs for agriculture today. India produces the third-largest amount of electricity in the world, behind China and the USA. As an incentive to increase production, most states provide free electricity to farmers. Free electricity has decreased groundwater levels and increased electricity consumption. The objective of this study was to find out the factors that influenced farmers to adopt a solar water-pumping system in Gujarat. The samples were randomly selected. This study examined the entire state of Gujarat. One hundred and fifty farmers who adopted solar water-pumping systems were interviewed, including 50 banana farmers, 50 cotton farmers and 50 groundnut farmers. Primary data were collected through an interview. The adoption of solar water-pumping systems by farmers was identified using factor analysis. SPSS software was used to analyse the data collected. In this study, only two factors contributed to the variance of 59.469%. The adoption of solar water pumps by farmers was influenced by government policy and economic benefits. An economic benefit variance of 33.20% was found, while a government policy variance was 26.27%. A solar water-pumping system has low initial costs, flexible credit policies motivate adoption, solar water-pumping systems can save electricity, and maintenance and repair costs are affordable. Government policy that includes solar water-pumping systems is motivated by awareness, subsidies for adoption and a fair price to sell energy surpluses. Farmers are recommended to adopt a solar water-pumping system in conjunction with a drip irrigation system to receive additional income. The successful scheme will be recommended to other states in India for implementation.

Highly transparent Ce:Nd:YAG ceramic with good light conversion capacity for solar-pumped solid-state lasers

Developing a high quality ceramic laser gain medium for solar directly pumped solid state lasers is essential, and yet the light conversion efficiency of the gain media for solar pumping remains a challenge. In this study, Ce and Nd ions, co-doped YAG transparent ceramics with theoretical transmittance and stable Ce3+ valent state were developed, and revealed that the absorbed visible light and light conversion efficiency in Ce,Nd:YAG ceramics were 3.98 times and 1.34 times higher than those in widely reported Cr,Nd:YAG ceramics, respectively. A concentration matching principle between Ce3+ and Nd3+ ions in YAG was established, and a higher Nd3+ ion doping concentration with a relatively low Ce3+ concentration was favorable to improve both the light conversion efficiency and emission intensity at 1064 nm of Ce,Nd:YAG ceramics. Energy transfer efficiency from Ce3+ to Nd3+ of the 0.3 at.%Ce,1.5at.%Nd:YAG ceramic reached as high as 61.71% at room temperature. Surprisingly, it was further promoted to 64.31% at a higher temperature of 473 K. More excited electrons at the upper energy level of Ce3+ ion under the high temperature accounted for this novel phenomenon. This study proposes a new design strategy of gain materials for solar directly pumped solid state lasers.

Economic feasibility of using agrivoltaics for tomato farming

AbstractAgrivoltaics or agrophotovoltaics (APV), which simply describes farming under a canopy of PV panels, has been recently gaining a wider implementation to improve farming yields as well as generate electricity on the same piece of land. The presented study undertakes an economic analysis to justify the implementation of agrivoltaics in a tomato farm. Three research cases are investigated; Case 1 is the control scenario which is just ordinary tomato farming that is used as a baseline. And then there are Cases 2 and 3, which are low‐density and high‐density agrivoltaics, respectively. The farm is irrigated from a borehole using a diesel generator in Case 1 and solar pumps in the Agrivoltaics Cases 2 and 3. The study found that tomato harvest is reduced by a minimum of 16% in agrivoltaics setup. However, this reduced harvest is compensated by the PV output. The payback period has been calculated considering the capital costs of the PV system and other operational costs within the farm, and it is found that Case 2 and Case 3 have 3 years and 3.6 years payback periods, respectively. While on the other hand, ordinary tomato farming is unattractive with a lengthy payback period of 17.5 years. Net present value analysis is also used to determine the profitability of the three scenarios over a 10‐year period, and the agrivoltaics scenarios are calculated to be profitable while ordinary tomato farming is not profitable. Therefore, this study justifies economic investment in agrivoltaics for tomato farming in Botswana.

Economic Feasibility Study on an Integrated System of Solar Thermal-Heat Pump for Industrial Process Steam Supply

Economic Feasibility Study on an Integrated System of Solar Thermal-Heat Pump for Industrial Process Steam Supply

Performance Analysis of Solar Thermal Heat Pump for Hot Water Supply to Industrial Process

Performance Analysis of Solar Thermal Heat Pump for Hot Water Supply to Industrial Process

Virtual Power Plant and Microgrid Control Integration for Campus Environments with Wind Solar Pumped Hydro and Biomass Energy

This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of integrating renewable energy sources, focusing on wind, solar, Pumped Hydro and biogas, into power systems. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) with an Energy Management System (EMS) offer a promising solution for managing these distributed resources. The VPP model, utilizing mixed integer linear programming (MILP) in GAMS and solved with CPLEX, optimizes net daily profit within a 24-hour interval. This approach efficiently allocates resources, maximizes profitability, and ensures stable energy supply, addressing the challenges posed by variable renewable energy outputs. The MILP model is formulated using linear equations and inequalities within GAMS, with the CPLEX solver being effective for handling large-scale linear programming tasks. The model is based on real-world data, including market variability, weather forecasts, and demand patterns, and can be optimized for better decision-making in VPP operations, ultimately maximizing profits while ensuring a stable and sustainable power supply.

Study on performance of direct-expansion heat pump water heater integrated uninsulated micro-channel PV/T solar collector

In this paper, a direct-expansion heat pump water heater system integrated uninsulated micro-channel PV/T solar collector (UMC-PVT-SC) is proposed. This system can realize storage for both thermal energy and electricity, ensuring the supply of domestic hot water. The theoretical models of micro-channel PV/T solar collector, hot water storage tank, compressor and electronic expansion valve are established to investigate the performance of the micro-channel PV/T heat pump water heater system. R134a is used as refrigerant. The system performance is numerically simulated using MATLAB for different solar radiation intensity, ambient temperature and wind speed. The results show that solar radiation intensity has the largest influence on the system performance, followed by ambient temperature and wind speed. The coefficient of performance of the heat pump (COPHP) and the overall coefficient of performance (COPpvt) of the integrated system increase while the required operating time reduces, as solar radiation intensity and ambient temperature increase. The uninsulated micro-channel PV/T solar collector (evaporator) can absorb thermal energy from both ambient air and solar radiation and therefore achieve high COPHP, electric efficiency and COPpvt. Even under cold weather conditions, the proposed solar collector and heat pump heater demonstrate high efficiencies, heating and power generation capacities. When ambient temperature is −18.6 °C and solar irradiance is 322 W/m2, the collector efficiency and electric efficiency of UMC-PVT-SC are still at 0.718 and 0.244, respectively, and the COPHP and COPpvt of the heat pump heater are 3.5, 5.63, respectively. The present work is of potential value for delivering net zero.

Solar photovoltaic-integrated energy storage system with a power electronic interface for operating a brushless DC drive-coupled agricultural load

Abstract This article describes the design and construction of a solar photovoltaic (SPV)-integrated energy storage system with a power electronics interface (PEI) for operating a Brushless DC (BLDC) drive coupled to agricultural loads. The proposed system is intended to make use of the electrical power available at under-utilized, pre-installed solar pumps used for irrigation. The PEI allows efficient energy management by charging and discharging depending on available solar power. The BLDC drive is a high-performance motor drive that requires a smooth and stable DC voltage. The bidirectional DC converter provides this while also allowing for efficient energy management between the battery and the solar PV system. The simulation results illustrate that the system is capable of efficiently managing energy between the battery and solar panels, providing a stable DC voltage to drive the BLDC motor. In addition to this, the results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating a solar system with a battery and BDC for driving BLDC in various agricultural applications. The experimental findings validate the simulation outcomes for the proposed setup implemented in pre-installed, untapped SPV systems. The system is able to provide a stable and efficient power source while also allowing for efficient energy management and utilization of solar energy.

Energy Savings, Environmental Impacts and Monitoring Results of a Pumped Solar Water Heating System at Katutura Hospital Maternity Ward, Namibia

The SADC region is endowed with solar radiation between 1800-2400 kWh/m2 [1]. Nevertheless only 0.3 % of the worldwide solar thermal capacity is installed in the Sab-Saharan African Countries. Therefore, the main goal of the Southern African Solar Renewable Heating and Cooling Initiative (SOLTRAIN+) project funded by the Austrian Development Agency is to contribute to the transformation of the energy system to a sustainable, affordable and carbon-free system. This will be done by the implementation of Renewable, Heating and Cooling (RHC) systems in the targeted sectors: buildings, industry & commerce, tourism and hospitals, and enable this by a holistic capacity building. RHC technologies are solar thermal, heat pump and energy efficiency. This study therefore intends to evaluate and produce energy balance, based on real data recorded from January 2023 to December 2023 on a 120 m2 collector area with 8000 litres storage tanks, and a 22 kW heat pump, installed at Katutura State Hospital maternity ward.

Analysis of Different Climate-Neutral Heat Supply Concepts for a District Heating System near Munich with Deep Geothermal Heat as the Primary Heat Source

District heating systems are one key element of the transition towards a climate-neutral heat supply since they allow for the use of various renewable energy sources and the increase of renewable heat generation, in particular when combined with seasonal thermal energy storage. Deep geothermal heat is a renewable heat source that can be used to cover the thermal base load of such a district heating system. Also in combination with other renewable heat sources, such as solar thermal or heat pumps, a climate-neutral heat supply for districts or even complete cities can be realised. This paper deals with the analysis of different climate-neutral heat supply concepts that were elaborated for a district heating system currently in the planning phase using deep geothermal heat as the primary heat source, located in the town of Graefelfing near Munich, Germany. The authors present, discuss and assess various options regarding renewable heat sources and including (seasonal) thermal energy storage, to fully cover the thermal loads of a new district heating system in a technically, economically and environmentally favourable way. As a result of this study, a heat supply concept was selected, in which a heat pump using the return flow of the deep geothermal circuit as a heat source maximises the utilisation of the available deep geothermal heat source to cover more than 95 % of the annual heat demand by deep geothermal heat combined with a heat pump.

Experimental study and semi-empirical model of a thermostatic expansion valve of a R290 direct-expansion solar heat pump

The expansion device plays a crucial role in the operation of heat pumps and refrigeration systems, making its study integral to advancements in the fields of refrigeration and heating. Among various expansion devices, the Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TEV) stands out due to its rapid response time and mechanical nature, which grants it high control capacity over refrigerant superheating. In this study, was developed a semiempirical mathematical model for a TEV incorporated in a DX-SAHP utilizing R290. The research was carried out in an experimental way, conducted using a fully instrumented DX-SAHP. A series of experiments tested different operational modes for water heating, subject to varying solar radiation intensities. A uniform methodology collected operational parameters, resulting in 150 experiments. The semiempirical model creation involved combining basic equations from the literature describing TEV operation and formulating an equation using multiple linear regression based on experimentally evaluated parameters. These parameters included solar radiation incidence, inlet and outlet pressures, and superheating degree. The regression model achieved an adjustment higher than 96 %. Combining this regression with equations suggested by previous researchers, resulted in a model with an adjustment exceeding 94 %. Furthermore, this study culminated in the derivation of a generalized model primed for broad application across various heat pump configurations for water heating purposes. Notably, the model underwent rigorous validation across a separate set of experiments, reaffirming its reliability and versatility. While excelling in steady-state operations, the model's transient data analysis falls short, as intended.

Virtual Power Plant and Microgrid Control Integration for Campus Environments with Wind Solar Pumped Hydro and Biomass Energy

This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of integrating renewable energy sources, focusing on wind, solar, Pumped Hydro and biogas, into power systems. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) with an Energy Management System (EMS) offer a promising solution for managing these distributed resources. The VPP model, utilizing mixed integer linear programming (MILP) in GAMS and solved with CPLEX, optimizes net daily profit within a 24-hour interval. This approach efficiently allocates resources, maximizes profitability, and ensures stable energy supply, addressing the challenges posed by variable renewable energy outputs. The MILP model is formulated using linear equations and inequalities within GAMS, with the CPLEX solver being effective for handling large-scale linear programming tasks. The model is based on real-world data, including market variability, weather forecasts, and demand patterns, and can be optimized for better decision-making in VPP operations, ultimately maximizing profits while ensuring a stable and sustainable power supply.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the effect of heat flux to lift water in a solar bubble pump

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the effect of heat flux to lift water in a solar bubble pump

Control Strategy for Ensuring Uninter-rupted Operation of a Solar Water Pump with Islanding Technique

This research explores strategies to bolster the resilience of solar water pump systems through the implementation of islanding techniques and seamless grid integration. In the face of increasingly dynamic energy landscapes, the need for reliable and adaptable solutions for water pumping is paramount. The study investigates the application of islanding techniques, focusing on their effectiveness in enhancing system resilience and ensuring uninterrupted water supply. Furthermore, the integration of these solar water pumps with the grid is examined, aiming to strike a harmonious balance between renewable energy utilization and grid connectivity. The findings contribute to the advancement of sustainable water pumping technologies, offering insights into the synergy of islanding techniques and grid integration for resilient solar-powered water pump systems.

Grid-Connected Solar Water Pumps with Reduced Converter Topology for Cost-Effective Brilliance

This study delves into the optimization of grid-connected solar water pumps by introducing a reduced topology, aiming to enhance both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The research focuses on streamlining the system's configuration, employing innovative techniques to minimize complexity and component requirements. By implementing this reduced topology, the study anticipates substantial cost savings in the overall system while maintaining or even improving its operational brilliance. Through a comprehensive analysis of the proposed approach, this research offers valuable insights into the potential for significant advancements in grid-connected solar water pump technology, paving the way for sustainable and economically viable water pumping solutions.

A Comprehensive Survey on Semi-Automatic Solar-Powered Pesticide Sprayers for Farming

In recent years, the agriculture sector has witnessed a growing demand for sustainable and efficient pest management solutions to enhance crop yield and reduce environmental impact. Among these solutions, semi-automatic solar-powered pesticide sprayers have emerged as promising tools for farmers worldwide. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of semi-automatic solar-powered pesticide sprayers designed for farming applications. The survey begins by exploring the motivations behind the development of solar-powered pesticide sprayers, emphasizing the need for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional pesticide application methods. It proceeds to examine the key components and functionalities of these sprayers, including solar panels, rechargeable batteries, pumps, nozzles, and control systems. Special attention is given to the integration of solar energy harvesting mechanisms and their impact on operational efficiency and sustainability. Furthermore, the survey investigates the design considerations and technical challenges associated with the development of semi-automatic solar-powered pesticide sprayers. Topics such as system autonomy, spray coverage, pesticide dosage control, and user-friendly interfaces are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, the paper highlights recent advancements and innovations in the field, including the incorporation of smart sensors, GPS technology, and data analytics for precision spraying and monitoring.

Life cycle assessment of solar PV water pumping system for carbon emissions reduction at a location: a case study

ABSTRACT The design of water supply systems powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed for irrigation and other allied applications at remote rural areas which lack proper on-grid power systems. These systems have been operating successfully for several decades at locations receiving ample solar radiation, assisting in the reduction of carbon emissions. Hybrid life cycle assessment was performed in this study to determine the carbon emissions for a solar PV water pumping system (SPVWPS) in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia. The carbon emission (g/mm3) produced by 1 m3 of water raised by 1 m was used as a reference in this assessment. The present analysis estimates the net CO2 emissions generated during the stages of production, transportation, construction, operation, maintenance, and recycling of SPVWPS. The results from SPVWPS were compared with CO2 emissions from diesel operated pumping systems. It was discovered that the carbon emission intensity produced during the 25-year operation period of SPVWPS was 0.80 g/mm3. The major CO2 emissions of SPVWPS were generated during the manufacturing stage totaled 2.02t, accounting for 55.19% of total emissions. When compared to the mobile diesel-powered water supply project, the CO2 emission intensity from SWPS was found to be about 0.55 times lower by about 1.46 g/mm3. As a result, the rapid development of SPVWPS in rural and pastoral areas represents the realization of rural low-carbon transformation and development, as well as the achievement of China’s “double carbon” reduction targets by 2050.

Three-dimensional model construction of a frost-free air source heat pump evaporator and its performance analysis

This study aims to design an efficient frost-free air source heat pump evaporator for use in cold regions. The challenges of low performance, slow heat transfer, and poor energy supply efficiency associated with air source heat pump evaporators are addressed. This study analyzed the benefits of combining solar energy and air source heat pumps for heat supply. A three-dimensional model of the evaporator was constructed in ANSYS software, and optimal operating parameters were determined through variable experiments. The experimental results showed that when other factors were controlled constant, the glass cover size increased from 1.7 m to 2.9 m, and the maximum value of heat absorption of the evaporator increased from 2155 W to 2418 W and then decreased to 2340 W. When the wind speed and wind pressure increased from 150Pa to 300Pa, the maximum value of heat absorption of the evaporator increased from 1620 W to 2110 W. In summary, the maximum value of heat absorption of the evaporator was increased from 1,620 W to 2,110 W when the size of the glass cover was 2.5 m*2.5 m*2.5 m. When the wind speed and pressure were 300Pa, the heat absorption efficiency of the evaporator was the highest. This finding not only provides a new idea for the performance optimization of air source heat pump evaporator, but also opens up new possibilities for energy efficiency improvement in cold regions, reflecting the innovative and application value of this study.

Optimization of solar and heat pump complementary powered desiccant air conditioning system

The effective utilization of renewable heat sources is critical for energy saving in desiccant air conditioning systems. A new solar and heat pump complementary powered desiccant air conditioning system is proposed. The system consists of a solar and water source heat pump complementary reheat subsystem, a two-stage desiccant wheel, a three-stage air cooler, and a two-stage heat pipe exchanger. Simulation are performed in the transient simulation software TRNSYS, and the particle swarm optimization and the Hooke Jeeves algorithm with life cycle cost as the objective function are applied to optimize the collector area, the heat storage tank volume and the water-source heat pump power. The results show that the monthly average coefficient of performance of the system is 5.1, 5.6, 5.5 and 4.8 in June, July, August and September, respectively. Compared to the conventional air conditioning system, the new system has a 58.4% reduction in operation cost and a payback period of 6.6 years. The CO2 emission reduction rate of the new system can reach 65.2% in July and 65.1% in August, while it is the lowest in September at 62.9%. Based on the above, the new system has better energy efficiency, economic and environmental benefits.

Prospects of Solar Pump for Irrigation and Household Applications for Climate Resilience in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a climate vulnerable and agricultural country. Coastal region of Bangladesh is severely affected by climate change. To mitigate climate, change a solar pump of flow rate 180 liter per minute was designed and tested in farmers’ fields of Kalapara and Galachipa Upazila (sub-district) of Patuakhali district, Barguna Sadar and Amtali Upazila of Barguna district and Char Fasson and Lalmohon Upazila of Bhola district in the coastal region of Bangladesh for irrigating in high value crops like tomato and brinjal using pond/canal water. One solar pump was installed in each Upazila of off-grid area in 2018 and experiments were conducted during 2018-2021. Each solar pump was operated with 1300 Wp photovoltaic panels and the panels were also used for supplying electricity to home appliances and home water supply when the irrigation time was over. In farmers’ fields, water saving irrigation methods such as drip irrigation and alternate furrow irrigation were conducted. The water savings from drip and alternate furrow irrigation methods over famers’ practice (every furrow irrigation) for tomato were 48.79% and 30.39% and those for brinjal were 47% and 35%, respectively. The benefit cost ratio of the demonstrated solar PV system was found to be 1.62 which was higher than low lift diesel pump (1.30). A small solar pump of 0.8 kW reduced 1.76 ton of carbon emission per year than a similar diesel engine operated pump. The farmers in the project areas are using the solar panels for irrigation, lightings, operating fans, supplying drinking water, sanitation and other purposes. Therefore, solar pump is an environment friendly and climate resilient technology with multiple benefits for small holder farmers in the coastal region of Bangladesh.