Solar-powered Pump - Components

Components

A photovoltaic solar powered pump system has four parts :

  • the pump
  • the controller (adjusting speed and output power according to input from solar panels)
  • an electric motor
  • solar panels.

The solar panels are most (up to 80%) of the cost of the equipment.

Solar pump motors may be DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current). Direct current motors are used for small to medium applications up to about 3 kW rating, and are suitable for applications such as garden fountains, landscaping, drinking water for livestock, or small irrigation projects. Since the motor system overall has higher efficiency than an AC pump of similar size, cost is reduced since smaller solar panels are used. Some kind of pump controller is required.

Alternating current solar pumps use an inverter to change direct current from the solar panels into alternating current. These can be made in ratings from 0.15 to 55 kW, and can be used on larger irrigation systems. The panel and inverters must be sized to accommodate the inrush characteristic of an AC motor.

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