Solar Pumping

Solar power is produced directly by sunlight shining on an array of PV modules. PV modules do not have any moving parts and are extremely simple and reliable.

If several modules are connected together in an array, they will provide enough power to run a motor pump set in a pumping system.

A PV powered water pumping system is basically similar to any other water pumping system. All PV powered pumping systems have, as a minimum, a PV array, a motor, and a pump. The array can be directly coupled to a DC motor or, through an inverter, to an AC motor. The motor is connected to any one of a variety of pumps.

Determining Water Needs

Solar Sales needs to know the volume of water required per day, how far the water needs to be transported, and the amount of energy available from the sun.

Three different needs should be considered to determine the quantity of water to be pumped by a water system:

Determining water needs for humans is complicated because water usage patterns vary based on location and personal lifestyle.

Static and Dynamic Heads

The total work (head) that a pump must overcome is made up of the pump drawdown level, the static head and delivery pipe friction losses.

For the drawdown level, it is important to remember that work does not start at where the pump is located in the water, but rather at where the water level is.

Static head is the distance from ground level to the top of the tank where the water is stored or the highest point to which it will be pumped/discharged.

When the water is pumped the pipe causes frictional losses. This additional factor makes up the total dynamic head (TDH). In other words the TDH is the sum of the vertical rise from the water level plus the distance equivalent of the friction of the water in the pipe. Since friction losses are dependent on the pumping rate, TDH should always be specified at a particular flow rate.

As a general rule it can be assumed that the larger the internal diameter of the discharge pipe, the lower the friction losses in that pipe.

Pump Types

Solar Sales uses positive displacement electro submersible pump systems that convert the DC power from the PV modules via a purpose built inverter to provide power to the motor.

These pumps are one of the most energy efficient currently available on the world market and as such provide an overall cost effective solution for all applications whether it be for livestock or for remote human communities.