It’s the age of solar power/ energy. Many uses are there of solar energy / power. Functioning of water pumps is one of them. Pumps which we run by solar power we call them solar pumps in fact there is no difference between solar or electric pump.
There are two major categories under solar pumps, first are submersible well pumps and second- surface delivery and pressure (booster) pumps.
Water delivery pumps are useful in transferring water from some place to other place. Some pumps are competent of high pressure whereas others are made for moving huge volumes of water at low pressure, like moving water from a reservoir to a water stock tank. Flows may be small just from 1/2 gallon per minute up to 40 gallons per minute.
Solar power operated submersible pumps are normally used for pumping water from wells, and these are suitably designed to fit within the well casing inside a drilled tube well. The most familiar casing size is 6 inches, but sizes 4 and 5 inches are also regular sizes. The well’s depth may be anywhere in between from 10 feet to 1600 feet deep. But as the well gets deeper, the system becomes more expensive. Depths over 350 feet shall usually cost quite a lot more. Solar powered submersible pumps are rarely suited for large quantities of water. The pumps generally suitable are 0.25 to 2 HP.
You must minimize suction lift to only a few feet, in order to better running, if possible. The utmost possible suction edge for non-submersible pumps is 20 feet (vertical) at sea level (deduct 1 ft. for each 1000 ft. of height). Few pumps drag water from just 9 to 13 feet at the sea level. Minimize more the suction lift, the more dependable and calm your pump shall be. Always be sure the pump must not be submerged when the water level gets up, otherwise the pump shall be of no further use. Your pump can be positioned downhill from the water source, if practicable.
Around the world nowadays there are more than 15,000 solar powered bore and surface water pumps in use. These are extensively used at farms and outback stations to supply surface and bore sourced water to livestock’s and irrigation.
In today’s developing nations these are extensively used to draw water from rivers and wells to towns and villages for household consumption and irrigation of forms and gardens. Once upon a time it was a very costly technology; now prices have come down in recent years and may further go down by government rebates and also by Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
A solar powered pumping system of typical type consisting of a solar panel array powers an electric bore or surface pump. The water is then pumped from the ground, well or river into a storage tank which provides a gravity feed, consequently energy storage is not required for these structures. Solar also called Photovoltaic (PV) powered pumping systems now are a low cost substitute to rural wind turbines for the remote vicinity water supply.
These systems are largely used to pump/ draw water for humans, livestock or plants. In view of the fact that the need for water is most on hot Sunny days/season this technology is a must choice for this need. Pumping water from using PV technology is reliable, simple and does not require almost any maintenance.
Solar powered water drawing/pumping system is same like any other pumping system; just the source of power is solar energy. PV/ solar pumping systems do have, at least a PV array/ panel, a motor, along with a bore pump. Solar pumping arrays are fixedly mounted otherwise placed on passive trackers (these use no motors) to raise pumping volume and time. DC and AC motors with displacement or centrifugal pumps are used.
Throughout the world solar water pumps are very useful in a number of ground-breaking applications. If you live in a remote vicinity and the expenditure of running customary water piping is high priced, a solar water pump can be the precise solution for your water providing needs. Furthermore, if you want to set up a Solar Water Heaters system at your residence, you will need to install the proper solar water pump. The Solar water pumps are useful for supplying water for crop irrigation, livestock and still simple household water supply where a domicile or town is far-flung from the water pipeline. It means you may pump water still when the electricity is not available.
o Circulating Pumps: Used basically in solar water heating uses. These pumps move directly from an undersized solar panel. No battery is needed.
o Submersible Pumps: Lifts water up to 650 feet and they fit well in a 4” or bigger well casing.
o Submersible pumps are useful when the water delivery is over than 20 feet as of the surface. They may operate straightly off solar panels, batteries or in some cases an AC power source is needed.
o Surface Pumps: These are good for use with ponds, streams, shallow wells or storage tanks. Their use is best if water delivery is 20 feet or a smaller amount from the float-up.
o Linear Current Boosters used for Pumps: LCBs let the pump motor to work longer during the day time by translating added voltage to essential current during time of low sun.
o Pump Accessories: Filters, valves and strainers in addition to dry run and float switches also a small amount of submersible wire are needed as spare parts.
