Stand-alone Photovoltaic Water Pumping System Research Articles

Modeling of a stand-alone solar photovoltaic water pumping system for irrigation

Solar photovoltaic water pumping systems have been research topics in recent decades. The purpose was to develop much more profitable and efficient systems to meet the needs of pumping water for livestock and irrigation. This paper describes the design of a stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping system. A Boost converter is used to apply the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. Similarly, a three-phase voltage source converter (VSC) is used to supply the asynchronous motor. The installation must provide a continuous water flow during the irrigation interval. It has been verified that in adverse weather conditions (cloud transits or partly cloudy) it is necessary to incorporate a decentralized-hybrid energy storage system (based on batteries or ultracapacitors), or excessively oversize the standalone photovoltaic system, to supply the water pump. The model has been simulated in Matlab-Simulink. In this way, different simulations have been developed to verify the basic characteristics of the proposed system. The results of the simulated model and the conclusions obtained are also presented in this paper.

Enhanced Intelligent Closed Loop Direct Torque and Flux Control of Induction Motor for Standalone Photovoltaic Water Pumping System

This paper aims to search for a high-performance low-cost standalone photovoltaic water pumping system (PVWPS) based on a three-phase induction motor (IM). In order to control the IM, a fuzzy direct torque control (FDTC) is proposed in this paper for overcoming the limitations of the conventional direct torque control (CDTC). In fact, the CDTC suffers from several problems such as torque ripples, current distortion, and switching frequency variations. These problems can be solved with the proposed FDTC. To ensure high performance of the PVWPS, the reference torque is generated using a fuzzy speed controller (FSC) instead of a conventional proportional integral speed controller. In order to extract the maximum amount of power, the proposed maximum power point tracking controller is based on variable step size perturb and observe to surmount the weakness of the conventional perturb and observe technique. The performance of the proposed FDTC based on the FSC under variable climatic conditions is demonstrated by digital simulation using Matlab/Simulink. The obtained results show the effectiveness of the suggested FDTC based on the FSC compared with the CDTC in terms of pumped water, reduction in flux and torque ripple, diminution of losses, and decrease in the stator current harmonic.

Reliability Evaluation of Stand-Alone Solar PV Energy System for Irrigation

Solar photovoltaic systems convert the energy of light directly into electrical energy. This paper presents Markov model and frequency-duration techniques for calculating the reliability indices of the stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping system. These techniques can be applied to both repairable and non-repairable systems. Markov model and frequency-duration techniques are used for evaluation of reliability indices e.g. failure rate, repair rate, unavailability etc. The results confirmed that failure and repair rate of the system is 0.33 and 41.37 respectively. Loss of load probability and unavailability of the system is 0.00158 /yrs and 13.8 hrs/yrs respectively.

Sizing and modelling of stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping system for irrigation

The aim of this study is to calculate the size of the stand-alone solar photovoltaic generator and water pumping system for irrigation. In addition solar photovoltaic generator connects voltage source inverter to vector controlled induction motor-pump system. Perturb and observe method is used for harvesting maximum power of photovoltaic generator. The smooth-starting of motor-pump drive is achieved through the maximum power point tracking method. The operational performance of the solar-water-pump system is kept at 60 m head and supply daily average 35,000 L/day. In this paper result is validated by the comparison fuzzy logic controller and proportional-integral controller, driven by solar-motor-pump system. The results confirmed that fuzzy logic controller based pumping system gives more accurate results as compared to proportional-integral controller based motor-pump system. The fuzzy logic controller increases the accuracy and efficiency of the solar-water-pump system.

Sizing of a standalone photovoltaic water pumping system using hybrid multi-criteria decision making methods

Photovoltaic water pumping system (PVPS) is considered one of the most important and promising application of solar energy in remote and rural areas. The random nature of solar energy is one of the main obstacles that encounter the designer to design an effective PVPS. Thus, an optimal and effective sizing approach is essential to ensure satisfactory performance. In this paper, a technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method integrated with analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is proposed to optimally size PVPS based on techno-economic aspects. The loss of load probability (LLP) and excess water volume are considered as technical criteria, whereas the life cycle cost (LCC) is represented as an economic criteria to size the system. The hybrid AHP-TOPSIS sorts the PVPS configurations from the best to worst based on predefined weights for each criteria. The optimal configuration is found 5 PV modules and 4 PV strings are connected in series and parallel, respectively with 79 m3 as a maximum capacity of storage tank. The performance of system is tested based on the proposed optimal configuration over a year using hourly meteorological data. The results show that the proposed system offers high reliability throughout the year with LLP, LCC, and deficit water volume around 0.0004, 10524.9 USD, and 4.4629 m3, respectively.

Efficiency Improvement in Induction Motor-Driven Solar Water Pumping System Using Golden Section Search Algorithm

The paper applies a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique for stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping system to improve the overall operating efficiency. This technique is based on golden section search (GSS) optimization method. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first attempt to apply it to such a problem. Compared to MPPT tracking method such as perturb and observe (P&O), GSS technique offers two advantages, namely fastness and perturbation-free which both affect the overall and instantaneous efficiency of the solar water pumping system. The maximum power transfer from the photovoltaic panel to the centrifugal pump is ensured by optimal selection of induction motor’s operating speed. This allows improving the global efficiency of the water pumping system that is maximum water flow rate with respect to the solar intensity. Modeling of solar water pumping system is presented then simulated using MATLAB/Simulink under variable irradiance to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed architecture. Results show that GSS-based MPPT offers better dynamic efficiency without altering much the easiness and simplicity of the implementation compared to the conventional P&O.

Techno-economic study and optimal sizing of a stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping system

Summary Solar energy is effectively used to power stand-alone photovoltaic pumping systems (PVPSs) for irrigation and drinking purposes in remote areas. However, random vicissitudes and the unpredictability of the amount of solar energy that can be harnessed lead to difficulties in designing PVPS. Thus, an optimal sizing approach is essential to ensure satisfactory performance. In this paper, a numerical iterative sizing approach based on technical and economic objectives is developed to optimize the configuraion of PVPS. The loss of load probability criteria is considered as the technical objective, while the life cycle cost criteria is considered as the economic objective. The proposed pumping system provides a daily water for a small village in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The proposed sizing approach is used to test all the possible configurations of a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) array sizes to specify the PV array configurations that realize the reliability condition. The optimal size of the storage tank and the optimal number of PV modules connected in series and parallel are specified to keep up a balance between the loss of load probability, life cycle cost, and excess water volume of PVPS. The performance of the system is tested on the basis of the proposed optimal configuration and hourly meteorological data for 1 year. The results show that the proposed system is available throughout most of the year.

Design and control of a standalone PV water pumping system

Water resources are vital for satisfying human needs. However, almost one-fifth of the world’s population – about 1.2 billion people – live in areas where water is physically rare. One quarter of the global population also live in developing countries that face water shortages. This paper presents standalone PV water pumping system. Photovoltaic (PV) is the main power source, and lead acid batteries are used as energy storage system, to supply a water pump driven by a BLDC motor. The proposed control strategy consists of three control units. The first unit is to control the speed and hysteresis current controller for BLDC motor. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is the second control unit, and the battery charging/discharging system is controlled by the third controller. The simulation results show the effectiveness and the good efficiency of the proposed system.

Sizing of a standalone photovoltaic water pumping system using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm

In this paper, a differential evolution based multi-objective optimization algorithm is proposed to optimally size a photovoltaic water pumping system (PVPS). Non-dominated sorting and crowding distance concepts are used to increase the elitism and diversity of the proposed algorithm. The proposed objective function is composed of technical and economic objectives. Loss of load probability is used as a technical objective, whereas life cycle cost is considered as an economic objective. The proposed PVPS is designed to provide a daily water demand of 30 m3 with a 20 m static head and a drawdown level. The optimal configuration of the system is selected from an optimal Pareto set of configurations to achieve balance between reliability, cost, and excess water of the system. The performance of the system is tested using hourly metorological data for one year time. Results show that the loss of load probability of the proposed system is around 0.5%. The life cycle cost, water deficit, and cost of water unit of the system are 9910 USD, 55 m3, and 0.045 USD/m3, respectively.

Multiobjective differential evolution algorithm-based sizing of a standalone photovoltaic water pumping system

In this paper, a differential evolution based multiobjective optimization algorithm is proposed to optimally size a photovoltaic water pumping system (PVPS). Three weighted individual objectives are aggregated by a single function to optimize the configuration of PVPS. Loss of load probability, life cycle cost and the volume of excess water are considered as three individual objective functions. The proposed pumping system is supposed to provide a daily water volume of 30m3 with a static head of 20m. The complexity of the initializing of the weights for each individual objective function is overcome by testing a wide range sets of weights. The performance of the system is tested based on hourly meteorological data. The performance results of the proposed system show that the loss of load probability and the average hourly water flow rate over a year time are around 0.5% and 3.297m3/h, respectively. The life cycle cost, water deficit, and cost of water unit of the system are 9911USD, 55.015m3, and 0.045USD/m3, respectively.

Multi-objective analytical model for optimal sizing of stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping systems

Stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) water pumping systems effectively use solar energy for irrigation purposes in remote areas. However the random variability and unpredictability of solar energy makes difficult the penetration of PV implementations and complicate the system design. An optimal sizing of these systems proves to be essential. This paper recommends a techno-economic optimization model to determine optimally the capacity of the components of PV water pumping system using a water storage tank. The proposed model is developed regarding the reliability and cost indicators, which are the deficiency of power supply probability and life-cycle costs, respectively. The novelty is that the proposed optimization model is analytically defined for two-objectives and it is able to find a compromise solution.The sizing of a stand-alone PV water pumping system comprises a detailed analysis of crop water requirements and optimal tilt angles. Besides the necessity of long solar radiation and temperature time series, the accurate forecasts of water supply needs have to be determined. The calculation of the optimal tilt angle for yearly, seasonally and monthly frequencies results in higher system efficiency. It is, therefore, suggested to change regularly the tilt angle in order to maximize solar energy output. The proposed optimal sizing model incorporates all these improvements and can accomplish a comprehensive optimization of PV water pumping systems. A case study is conducted considering the irrigation of citrus trees yard located in Antalya, Turkey. The proposed model is also compared with a computational method and it is shown that sizing results are technically and economically more suitable than computational algorithm according to the applications on a 5-yearly basis.