A stand-alone solar water pumping system is an excellent solution, especially for
remote locations. In such systems, solar energy is captured directly from
photovoltaic panels without using battery storage or any type of energy
conversion. The energy is then stored as hydraulic energy in a reservoir to be
used later for purposes such as the irrigation of agricultural crops. These systems
have a unique characteristic in that the operational parameters of the pumps, such
as total dynamic head (TDH), flow rate, and efficiency, depend on solar
irradiation, which changes with the season and across the day. The results show
that in the daytime, when solar radiance is low at sunrise and sunset, the pump
cannot reach the fixed head. Low solar radiance conditions have led to several
ideas for pumping system adjustments. The selected solution noticeably increases
the water pumped in these conditions.
Keywords: Photovoltaic, Pumping, Experimental evaluation, Direct-coupled,
Buck converter