Solar Water Pumps: Notes and Tips
Mechanical pumps now have many uses. They are common in pumping water from wells, aquarium filtration, pond filtration, and aeration. For water pumps, the main purpose of this device is to exchange fluids such as water.
Pumps are used in a wide range of applications, from agriculture to the energy industry. The main working principle of the water pump basically depends on the principle of positive displacement and the kinetic energy that helps to push the water.
Solar water pumps are a relatively new concept in mechanics. Solar water pumping systems are common for residential and commercial use, as well as for irrigation of agricultural lands. With solar panels, pumps can eliminate energy costs and provide a more viable option to pump water using energy from the sun (rather than a fuel-burning mechanism).
Introducing solar irrigation to poor and remote areas
At a time when the entire world is turning to solar energy, the use of solar energy in water pumping systems can significantly help and accelerate agricultural development in African countries and many other poor and remote areas. The concept is called solar irrigation and is used in many areas today.
The truth is, solar energy may be the easiest way for farmers to generate energy, especially for those who live off the grid and have poor infrastructure near their homes. Therefore, the application of solar water pumps in agriculture is becoming more and more common. The concept of solar irrigation represents a virtuous cycle - when the sun is shining, it feeds the irrigation system and feeds crops that depend on water in sunny weather. Therefore, a lot of energy is released when it is needed most.
Solar irrigation is a concept that works through solar water pumps. Below, we describe them in detail.
What is a solar water pump and what are the most popular types?
As we've discussed before, solar pumps are a clean, simple, and energy-efficient alternative to traditional electric and oil-driven pump sets. They are part of an environmentally friendly approach to agriculture that can be used to develop every region, whether developed or poor.
Due to their enormous potential for productive use and agricultural productivity, solar water pumps are now powering more and more agricultural projects. With 40% of the world's population relying on agriculture as their primary source of income, access to water remains an ongoing struggle for many. That’s what solar aims to transform and introduce a cost-effective future for the world’s approximately 500 million smallholder farmers.
The main components of a solar pumping system include photovoltaic (PV) arrays, electric motors, and pumps. On the other hand, solar water pump systems are classified as direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) systems based on the capabilities of their motors. More recently, the concept of brushless DC (BLDC) motors for solar water pumping applications has also been proposed.
Classification and types of solar water pumps
For stand-alone solar pumping systems, the main types include rotary pumps and positive displacement pumps. Centrifugal pumps are a common choice for rotation and are designed for fixed-head applications. Their output is proportional to the rotational speed.
In addition, pumps are also classified into submersible and surface pumps according to their location (underwater and above the waterline).
In summary, the main aspects related to solar water pump efficiency are based on three variables, pressure, flow, and pump input power. The efficiency of the wires to the water is a common metric for determining the overall efficiency of a solar water pump (as the ratio between the water energy flowing out of the pipes and the energy passing through the wires through the solar panels).
Why solar water pumps are the ideal way to boost agriculture in remote areas (and Africa)?
The solar water pump is an environmentally friendly concept. What's more, the concept gets rid of any grid or fossil fuels used to pump water from the ground. Below, we list the advantages of their use.
Advantages of solar water pumps
The first advantage of solar water pumps is that they are reliable in regional and remote areas. A perfect example is Africa, one of the poorest remote regions in the world, with abundant water resources, but also the most dominant region under the sun for most of the year. Africa, on the other hand, is thought to have 9% of the world's freshwater resources, equivalent to about 4,000 square kilometers of water per year. Therefore, deploying solar water pumps in Africa is a perfect alternative to any other fuel-based resource and one that can stimulate life in every part of the continent.
Solar water pumps are easy to transport and relocate, can be organized according to the needs of the farm, and have extremely low operating costs. Both of these are major advantages, in the long run, combined with their cost-effectiveness, suggesting that solar pumping systems are the perfect solution for sunny and land-rich areas.
How to choose an efficient solar water pump?
As we mentioned above, the investment costs associated with purchasing solar water pumps have been declining over the past few years. However, there are many factors that affect the efficiency of solar water pumps, including:
Economic feasibility
Get money
Installation, operation, and maintenance
Standardization and quality control of products and services
Water resource management
Social justice
Taking these factors into consideration, we can say that solar water pumping can provide significant environmental and socioeconomic benefits at the farm and national levels. At the farm level, the technology could provide reliable energy to remote areas, especially those that are not connected to the grid or lack a regular supply of liquid fuels. At the national level, solar water pumping helps stabilize, increase and diversify agricultural production, which underpins the economies of most African countries.
By definition, an efficient solar pumping system is one that receives sufficient sunlight and is installed specifically for the needs of the farm.
In a world of current energy crises, renewable energy is gaining momentum. Despite the relatively high cost, the true efficiency of a solar system can be seen in years of use. As a renewable energy option, developing solar energy is a valuable option.
The focus of deploying solar pumping is clearly on South Africa and less economically developed but sunny regions. Combined with the right environmental conditions, the right number of photovoltaic panels and controllers, and the correct installation setup of energy storage, converters, inverters, pumps, and motors, solar water pumping systems can provide many benefits to farms and countries.
In conclusion
If you are considering or considering applying solar energy to agriculture, the benefits are manifold. With the ability to pump water for irrigation in dry and sunny weather in areas where it is most needed, such panels can be easily installed and enable the pump to work in very low-production wells, providing longer life and ample energy long run.
The above is a detailed introduction to the instructions and usage skills of solar water pumps. If you want to buy solar water pumps, please contact us.
TPON is a professional custom solar water pump manufacturer. Our R&D team is innovative. Our product styles are diversified and keep up with industry trends. Our services are perfect and our sales channels are extensive. Products are exported to Southeast Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, the Middle East, and other countries. TPON Solar Well Pumps never stop the steps of improving and innovating our solar pumps to meet different market demands.