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Title: Evaluation of pumps and motors for photovoltaic water-pumping systems

Abstract

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 ismore » 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.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5249201
Report Number(s):
SERI/TR-214-1423
ON: DE82019163
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-77CH00178
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 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

Citation Formats

Waddington, D, and Herlevich, A. Evaluation of pumps and motors for photovoltaic water-pumping systems. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Waddington, D, & Herlevich, A. Evaluation of pumps and motors for photovoltaic water-pumping systems. United States.
Waddington, D, and Herlevich, A. 1982. "Evaluation of pumps and motors for photovoltaic water-pumping systems". United States.
@article{osti_5249201,
title = {Evaluation of pumps and motors for photovoltaic water-pumping systems},
author = {Waddington, D and Herlevich, A},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5249201}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982},
month = {Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982}
}

Technical Report:
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