Evaluation of pumps and motors for photovoltaic water-pumping systems
Two electric, motor-driven water pumps were tested in conjunction with a photovoltaic (PV) array that provided the electrical energy to run the pumps. The purpose of the tests was to evaluate the performance of currently available, low-cost pumping systems powered by PV arrays. The performance and cost of these systems were compared with analogous data from similar, higher priced pumps and motors currently used with many PV water pumping systems. The two pump systems considered represent production equipment available from U.S. industry and cost less that 50% of equivalent pumps installed with PV pumping systems in the United States and in developing countries. Flow rates, pumping heads, and efficiency were comparable in both test pumps and equivalent pumps. Motor performance when the motor was directly connected to the PV array and loaded with the pump was examined. The conclusion drawn from this experiment is that commercially available, low-cost water pump systems will perform satisfactorily when powered by PV arrays. The test facility constructed for these tests consists of a trailer housing the instrumentation, controls and pump subsystem, and two solar arrays that provided up to 1500 W/sub p/ power. Two battery storage subsystems provide instrumentation power when solar energy is not available. This facility can now be used for further tests, for orientation, or to provide hands-on training for persons interested in using PV-powered systems.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-77CH00178
- OSTI ID:
- 5249201
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TR-214-1423; ON: DE82019163
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ELECTRIC MOTORS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
WATER PUMPS
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
FLOW RATE
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
TEST FACILITIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MOTORS
POWER SUPPLIES
PUMPS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems