Programme Structure

StructureContents
AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON SOLAR
ENERGY APPLICATION–WATER PUMP

1. SOLAR ENERGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS

2. SOLAR WATER PUMP AND ITS COMPONENTS

3. OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY

1
Programme Design Committee

Prof. Ravindra Kumar, Dr. O. A. Sastry, Sr. Consultant

Former Vice Chancellor International Solar Alliance (ISA)
IGNOU, New Delhi 4th Floor, Surya Bhawan, NISE Campus,
Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, Haryana - 122003 India
Dr. Upendra Tripathy, Interim Director
General, International Solar Alliance, Dr. Praveen Saxena, CEO, Skill Council for Green
4th Floor, Surya Bhawan, NISE Campus, Jobs, 3rd Floor, CBIP Building, Malcha Marg,
Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, Haryana - Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021
122003 India
Dr. A.K. Tripathy, Director General, Dr. Bibek Bandopadhyaya, Senior Adviser, USAID
National Institute of Solar Energy, NISE PACE D Technical Assistance Program, South Delhi,
Campus, Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, Delhi, India
Haryana – 122003
Dr. R.K. Pandey, Director General, Mr. Sumit Gupta, Founder & CEO
National Power Training Institute, Pragya Solar, J M Orchid, Sector -76, Noida -201301
Ministry of Power, GoI,
Dr. M.K. Salooja, Director
NPTI Complex, Sector-33,
Faridabad-121003 (Haryana) School of Agriculture, IGNOU, New Delhi
Dr. Y.B.K. Reddy, Sr. Manager (Solar)
Dr. Rakhi Sharma, Director, School of Engineering
Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd.
and Technology,
(A Govt. of India Enterprise), 1st Floor,
IGNOU, New Delhi
D-3, A Wing, Prius Platinum Building
District Centre, Saket, New Delhi- Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Assistant Professor,
110017 School of Agriculture, IGNOU, New Delhi
Programme Coordinators : Dr. Mukesh Kumar and Prof. M.K. Salooja

Module Preparation Team

Writer
Dr. Mukesh Kumar,
Assistant Professor
School of Agriculture,
IGNOU, New Delh- 110 068
Editor Language Editors
Dr. O. A. Sastry, Sr. Consultant 1. Dr. P. Vijayakumar
International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assistant Professor, SoA
4th Floor, Surya Bhawan, NISE 2. Dr. Parmod Kumar,
Campus, Gwal Pahari, Gurugram- Associate Professor, SoH,
122003 (Haryana) IGNOU, New Delhi

Material Production
September, 2018
© Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2018.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission
in writing from the Copyright holder.
Further information on the Indira Gandhi National Open University courses may be obtained from the University’s office at
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110 068 or the official website of IGNOU at www.ignou.ac.in.
Printed and published on behalf of Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi by Director, School of Agriculture.

Cover page designed by Ms. Geetika Duggal

2
MODULE 2

Structure

Solar Water 2.0 Introduction

Pump and its 2.1 Objectives

2.2 Water Pump
Components
2.3 Solar PV Water Pumping System
2.3.1 Need of Solar PV Water Pump for Irrigation
2.3.2 Basics of Solar PV Water Pumping System
2.3.3 Applications of Solar PV Water Pumping System
2.4 Benefits of Solar PV Water Pumping System
2.5 Economic Comparison of Diesel, Electric and
Solar PV Water Pumping System
2.6 Components of A Solar PV Water Pumping
System
2.6.1 Solar Array
2.6.2 Pump Controller
2.6.3 Water Pumping Motors
2.6.4 Water Pump
2.7 Installation of Solar PV Water Pumping System
2.7.1 PV Array Installation
2.7.2 Controller Installation
2.7.3 Motor and Pump installation
2.8 Let Us Sum UP
2.9 Self-Assessment Questions and Answers
2.10 Keywords
2.11 Suggested Readings and References
2.12 Answers to Check You Progress
2.13 Case Study

3
2.0 INTRODUCTION

In the previous module, you have learnt about solar energy its benefits & its
limitations, different factors affecting solar energy production and application of
solar energy. The importance of irrigation in agriculture and different irrigation
methods was also discussed.

Now, we will discuss the water pump, types of water pumps. You will know the
need and importance of solar Photovoltaic (PV) water pumping system for
irrigation along with different components of solar PV water pumping system in
the present unit.

As you are already aware that assured supply of power for irrigation can
enhance agricultural productivity, there is need to work on the uninterrupted
supply of power. Farmers are facing difficulties in irrigating their fields by the
available energy resources (electrical and diesel) primarily because of two
reasons: (i) irregular supply of electricity and (ii) ever increasing cost of diesel.
Solar PV water pumping system is the most ideal solution for assured
irrigation. Solar PV water pumps are pollution-free and require little
maintenance likely compared to the diesel operated or AC operated pump
sets. However, the basic drawback is that this system functions during day
time only i.e. sunshine hours only. The solar PV water pumping system has
four major components: solar PV panel, control unit, and the motor & pump.

A simple solar PV array consists of a designated number of solar PV modules

of same wattages, mostly connected in series. The pump controller optimises
the power output from the array and converts it into suitable DC or AC supply
to be fed to motor and pump. The farmers must understand that the main
function of the controller is to work as a DC-DC/DC-AC converter. Generally,
the AC output of the controller is a variable frequency AC supply unlike the
conventional AC pump system which operates at fixed frequency i.e. 50 Hz.
Therefore, farmers should understand that the conventional AC pumps may
not operate effectively with the pump controller. The solar PV water pumping
system uses motor and a pump which are different from that of the

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conventional 50 Hz AC motor and pump. You will learn more details about the
system in the subsequent sections.

2.1 OBJECTIVES
After going through this module, you will be able to:
 Describe water pump and its different types;
 List the different components of Solar PV water pumping system;
 Describe the function of pump controller;
 Discuss the details of pump and motor; and
 Explain the installation process of a Solar PV water pumping system.

2.2 WATER PUMP

A water pump is a mechanical device used to lift water from a tank or

reservoir. Water pumps are categorised as positive displacement pumps and
centrifugal pumps.

(i) Positive Displacement Pump: These pumps use diaphragm, vanes or

pistons to seal water in a chamber and force it through a discharge outlet.
The positive displacement pump is currently being used in many solar
water pumps. The pump transfers water into a chamber and then forces it
out using a piston or helical screw. Positive displacement pumps
generally pump slower than centrifugal pumps but have good
performance under low power conditions and achieve high lift. However,
when operating at low power, the performance of the centrifugal pump
drops dramatically. Example is hand pump shown in Fig. 2.1

Fig. 2.1: Positive Displacement

Pump (Hand Pump)

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 (ii) Centrifugal Pump: These pumps are most commonly used. Centrifugal
pumps use a spinning impeller that adds energy to the water and
pushes into the system, similar to a water wheel. Centrifugal pump uses
high-speed rotation to suck in water through the middle of the pump.
Most AC pumps use such a centrifugal impeller. Different types of
centrifugal pumps are shown in Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.2: Centrifugal Pump

Comparison between positive displacement and centrifugal pumps

Positive Displacement Pumps Centrifugal Pumps

 Pump forces a predetermined
fluid quantity from the pump
inlet to the pump discharge
 Higher heads at low discharge.
 Flow rate less affected by head
 Flow rate remains constant with
a change in pressure.
 Example is hand pump
 Impeller is used to draw a
vacuum at the inlet side and
send water out at pressure
 Higher discharge at low heads.
 Loss of flow rate with high
head
 Flow rate varies with a change
in pressure.
 Example is mono-block and
submersible pump

Pumps can either be operated in submersible condition or from the surface of

the water source.

Submersible pump: These pumps are submerged in the reservoir and placed
below the surface of the water source. They are highly reliable and do not

6
need special protection. Submersible pumps (Fig. 2.3) do not require priming.
These types of solar PV pumps are used when the water level is deeper than 6
meters from the surface and can lift water from the depth up to 200 meters and
fit in a 4" or larger well casing. Submersible solar pumps can operate directly
with electrical energy generated by solar PV panels when used DC pumps.
However, an AC pump can also be used instead of a DC pump, but, it will
require an inverter when used with solar power. Water is usually pumped
during the day when the sun is shining and stored in a reservoir or tank for use
whenever needed.

Fig. 2.3: Submersible pumps

Surface pump: These pumps are located at or near the water surface. These
are primarily used for moving water through a pipeline. However, these pumps
can be used to lift water from the depth up to 10 meters if the depth of water
increased the discharge decrease drastically. Some surface pumps can
develop high heads and are suitable for moving water long distances or to
higher elevations. Surface solar PV water pumps are good for applications with
shallow wells, ponds, streams or storage tanks. These pumps are best if depth
of water is 6 meters or less from the surface. While surface pumps generally
can't lift water very high from a deep source, they can push water to greater
distances i.e. 60 meters or more. Surface pump is shown in Fig. 2.4 below.

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 Fig. 2.4: Surface pump

2.3 SOLAR PV WATER PUMPING SYSTEM

2.3.1 Need of Solar PV Water Pump for Irrigation

Water demand is continuously increasing due to increase in population and

growing demand of domestic, agriculture and industry sectors. The mismatch
between the demand and supply of energy in general and electricity in
particular, is posing challenges to farmers particularly in remote areas. The
scarcity of electricity coupled with the increasing unreliability of monsoon rains
is forcing farmers to look for alternate fuels such as diesel for running irrigation
pump sets. However, the costs of using diesel for powering irrigation pump
sets are often beyond the means of small and marginal farmers.
Simultaneously, diesel operated water pumps directly and indirectly emit large
amount of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere and are not environment
friendly. Consequently, the lack of water often leads to damaging of crop,
thereby, reducing yields and income. Hence, using conventional diesel
powered pumping systems poses an economic risk to the farmers.

2.3.2 Basics of Solar PV Water Pumping System

Solar PV water pumping system is designed to run water pump by utilizing the
electrical current generated by solar PV array using solar energy efficiently. In
solar PV water pumping system, a solar PV array generates direct current from
the sun’s radiation. Solar PV pumps are only available for a set range of
conditions of head and daily pumped volume. This directly generated DC

8
electricity can be connected to DC pump to pump water from groundwater
source. However, in case of AC pump an inverter or AC converter can be
connected. Inverter is a device that converts the direct current (DC) generated
by solar photovoltaic or the battery into alternating current (AC). An inverter
could be chosen to output in a variety of voltages, including 220 V and 110 V,
single and/or 3 phase for very large loads. Solar PV water pumps are a reliable
solution for irrigation especially for villages. The actual duration of pumping of
water on a particular day and quantity of water pumped could vary depending
on the solar intensity, location, season, etc.
• In most cases, the solar PV water pump come with specifications of vertical
lift or head.

• The manufacturer or distributor will usually specify what is required. It is

important to always refer to product manuals when operating the solar PV
water pump.

• DC (direct current) water pump in generally use one-third to one-half the

energy of conventional AC (alternating current) pumps.

2.3.3 Applications of Solar PV Water Pumping System

Solar water pump can be used for different agriculture and allied purposes.
Main applications of solar water pump are as follows:
• Domestic water supply in rural and urban areas: Solar water pumps are
used to lift water and supply for households or community’s activities in rural
and urban areas.
• Agricultural Purposes: Solar PV water pump use to lift water for life saving
irrigation to the crop and for different purposes of animal rearing at farm.
Figure 2.5 shows the use of solar PV water pumping for various purposes
like irrigation, animal rearing, domestic.

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 Fig. 2.5: Application of solar water pumping for agriculture and allied sectors
The suitability of major irrigation systems for use with solar PV water pumping
are given in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1: Suitability of major irrigation methods for use with solar PV
water pumping

Distribution Application Typical head Suitability for use

method efficiency with solar pumps
Open Channels 50-60% 0.5-1 m Yes
Sprinkler 70% 10-20 m No
Trickle/drip 85% 1-2 m Yes
Flood 40-50% 0.5 m No

2.4 BENEFITS OF SOLAR PV WATER PUMPING SYSTEM

Farmers
 Free supply of energy.
 Improved access to water for irrigation.
 Improved crop yield and increased income.
 Reduced manual work.
 Reduced risk to the farmers working at night in the fields.

10
  Enhanced crop resilience and food security.
 More income generating opportunities by complementing staple foods
with high-value crops.
 Additional benefits for health, education and poverty alleviation.
Government
 Reduction in electricity and fuel use
 Subsidy savings and reduced fuel imports
 Creation of small businesses/employment across the value chain
 Improved availability of reliable sources of power
 Increased agricultural economic output
 Reductions in carbon emissions

2.5 COST COMPARISION OF DIESEL, ELECTRICAL AND

SOLAR PV WATER PUMPING SYSTEM

Diesel is one of the most available options in the farming areas where
electricity is not available through power grid.
The cost of any water pumping system has number of components which viz.
capital cost, maintenance, replacement and operational cost, life cycle cost
etc. In case of diesel water pump, capital cost includes the cost for diesel
engine and for the arrangements to lift water from a well. In case of grid-
connected electricity operated pumps, cost for a new electric connection and
for purchasing an AC pumping system contributed towards capital cost.
However, the capital cost in solar PV water pumping system involves cost of
solar PV panel, DC/AC pump, inverter, mounting structure, accessories/cables
and miscellaneous cost.

A Case Study is presented for your reference and better understanding

towards the end of the module.

2.6 COMPONENTS OF A SOLAR PV WATER PUMPING

SYSTEM
Before discussing the components of solar PV water pumping system, it is
important to know the difference between the conventional and solar PV water

11
pumping system. The conventional pumping system is connected to either
single phase (1¢ i.e. 230 volts/440 volts 50 Hz AC supply from grid) or two
phase (2¢ i.e. 230 volts/440 volts 50 Hz AC supply from grid). A conventional
pump normally operates at fixed frequency 50 Hz. The amount of power drawn
by the pump and motor is normally constant. In solar PV water pumping
system, the motor can be a Permanent Magnet DC/brushless DC or a variable
frequency AC motor directly coupled to the pump. The frequency applied to the
pump and motor varies with the input power which varies due to solar
radiation. Therefore, you must understand that conventional motor pump
should not be connected with the controller of solar PV water pumping
system unless otherwise needed.

Like a conventional water pumping system, the capacity of the solar PV array,
controller and pumping system depends on the quantity of the water required,
depth of the water, and the site conditions.

Now, let us focus on the major components of a solar PV water pumping

system. It consists of (i) Solar PV array; which converts sunlight into DC
electricity; (ii) system controller (an electronic unit), which provides the
appropriate power to the motor and pump; (iii) an electrical motor, which drives
the pump; and (iv) a pump with number of stages, which lifts the water from
source to its delivery point. The flow of energy from the array to the motor and
pump system is shown in the Figure 2.6.

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 Fig. 2.6: Components of solar PV water pump

We have listed the various components of solar PV water pumping system.

Figure 2.7 describes the generation and utilization of solar energy for running
solar PV water pump through a flow diagram.

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 Source of Energy Sun

Sun radiation

Solar array
Convert solar radiation to DC Power

Solar energy is converted to DC-

DC/DC-AC

An electronic device, which

Control system
control the array and the pump DC-DC/DC-AC

Motor An electrical motor,

which drives the pump
(DC/AC)

Water source Pump Delivery

Water Storage Tank

Fig. 2.7: Block diagram showing generation and utilization of Solar Energy

Now we shall discuss each component of the solar PV water pumping system
in detail.

2.6.1 Solar Array

Solar array consists of parallel and series combination of identical photovoltaic
(PV) module to form the required capacity (kWp) to drive the motor and pump.

PV Array consists of one or two strings of solar PV modules connected in

14
parallel and series strings. The number of modules in series generates the
required voltage suitable to supply power to the controller and the number of
modules in parallel generates the required current. Thus, the series and
parallel combination of the modules generate required voltage and current,
respectively, to drive the motor and pump. Figure 2.8 shows solar array.

Fig. 2.8: Solar Array

2.6.2 Pump Controller

Every solar PV water pumping system requires a controller. Figure 2.9 shows,
the pump controller is a buffer device between the solar PV array and motor &
pump. The controller takes DC input from solar PV array and supply the
required DC or AC power to the motor. The pump controller also has a DC
maximum power point tracker (MPPT), which maximises the pump’s water
output. Further, the pump controller protects the pump from high voltage/
under voltage conditions. The controller comes in different capacities suitable
to the solar array and the motor and pump load. The exact size of pump
controller will be determined by the solar array and pump configuration.

The controller (Fig. 2.9) also contains electronic monitoring system to remotely
monitor, operate and record the pump performance. The latest pump controller
includes an inverter electronics to synchronize and supply power to the grid
acting as grid interactive system in case the pump is not used to lift water.

15
 Fig. 2.9: Pump Controller

Locating and Mounting the Controller

It is recommended to mount the pump controller inside a shelter or make a

sheet-metal shade. It is recommended to mount the controller box to the pipe
below the solar array if the solar array is nearby and tightly fastened the pump

16
controller to the opposing side of the solar panels (Figure 2.10). However, if
the solar array structure is at a considerable distance from the well, it is
preferable to place the controller closer to the array to avoid any DC cable
losses.

Fig. 2.10: Pump Controller under solar panel

2.6.3 Electric Motor
In a solar pumping system, the water pump needs to be driven by an electric
motor which is powered by the electrical output generated by the solar array.
The term ‘solar water pump’, refers to a motor-driven water pump for use with
a solar PV array. Submersible water pumping motor is shown in Fig. 2.11.

Fig. 2.11: Submersible water pumping motor

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There are mainly two types of water pumping motors:

1. Direct Current (DC) Motor: The DC motors with permanent magnet are
generally more efficient. During initial day of technology DC motors with
carbon brushes were used, which were eventually replaced by Brush-Less
DC (BLDC) which are more efficient and also operates even in low
radiation condition. A pump with DC motor is more efficient and starts its
operations even in the early hours of the day (even at 7:00 am) and
operates till late evening (even at 7:00 pm). A DC motor-based pumping
system is more efficient compared to an AC motor. However, DC motor
pumping system are more expensive compared to the AC motors. DC
motors with carbon brushes need to be replaced after approximately every
2 years. Brush-less designs require electronic commutation. BLDC Motors
are becoming popular in the solar water pumps due to its low irradiation
threshold, long operation life and high performance.

2. Alternating Current (AC) Motors: AC motors require an inverter to convert

DC to AC. Solar pumping systems use special electronically controlled
variable-frequency inverters which use variable-frequency drives (VFD).
Unlike the conventional 50 Hz motors, these motors will operate anywhere
between 10 Hz to 60 Hz depending upon the input power. Thus, increasing
and optimizing the water output concurrently based on the input radiation
level. Therefore, a conventional AC supply 50 Hz motors are not suitable
for solar PV water pump application.

2.6.4 Water pump

Water pumps are available over a wide range. Fig. 2.12 shows water pump.
The water pumps are used for different purposes such as domestic water
supply, irrigation, industrial purposes etc. These pumps are available in
different capacities and sizes which are selected based on the pumping
requirements such as quantity of water per day, depth of the water and
service head.

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 Fig. 2.12: Submersible water pump

Some source of energy is required to run water pump. Water pump normally
use diesel, electricity, wind energy, hydro, solar power to lift the water. The
irrigation pumps are generally driven by diesel engine or by electric motor.

Solar energy is used to run the solar PV water pumping system. A solar pump
will be able to lift sufficient quantity of water during sunshine hours to meet
daily water requirements, provided the system is designed appropriately.
Depending on the requirement of the quantity of water and the head, the
diameter of pump impeller and the speed needs to be selected. For lifting the
water from higher depth, multistage pumps are used. The minimum power that
a solar PV water pump needs to move the water from the water source over

19
the required distance and through the required vertical lift is known as
“threshold power”.

The following types of motor pump sets are used mainly in the solar PV water
pumping systems:

 Surface mounted DC motor pump-set

 Submersible DC motor pump set
 Submersible AC motor pump set
 Floating DC motor pump set

2.7 INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PV WATER PUMPING

SYSTEM
The solar PV water pump installation is highly skilled and involved task, only
knowledgeable service person is competent to do the installation of the
pumping system. The technique and specialization of installation different for
the types of water resources and types of pumps. For the purpose of
installation, the pumps can be categorized into surface, submersible and float
pumps. Surface pumps are used where high quantity of water from shallow
wells is required. Surface pumps cannot be effective beyond the 6 m of suction
head as the quantity of water through put decreases drastically with the
increase of suction head. In case of float pumps and submersible pumps, the
suction head is zero and the pump has delivery and service head. It is
therefore, advised that the farmer should not install the pump all by
himself/herself, he/she need the technical guidance and assistance of a solar
technician like Surya Mitra/ Varuna for the installation of a pump. To gain the
maximum level of service and satisfaction from solar PV water pumping
system, proper installation of solar pump is the most important task. Before,
the start of installation process of any solar PV pumping system at farmers’
field, a farmer must carefully read and understand the following:

 The details marked on the motor pump set such as name of the
manufacturer or distinctive logo, model number, serial number, size and
capacity of motor and pump, year of manufacturing etc. should be

20
 carefully checked. If any questions or concerns regarding these, please
contact your Authorized Dealer.
 Please read the warnings listed for personal safety and the safety of the
products. Disregarding or ignoring these warnings can result in SERIOUS
INJURY.
 The system should be installed and serviced by qualified personnel only.
 Solar PV water pumping system should be installed by a licensed pump
installer. If solar PV water pumping system is being installed without a
licensed pump installer such as Surya Mitra /Varun /PV engineers, an
electrician or knowledge of electrical circuits is HIGHLY recommended.
 Make sure that correct size of cable/wire is used as recommended on
pump data sheets and it has suitable insulation. The under-sizing the
wires can cause the pump to experience low power failure.
 Install proper system grounding for safety and lightning protection. Proper
grounding can significantly reduce the chance of extreme damages.
 While installing solar PV water pumping system, every care must be
taken to minimize the cable losses as far as possible by keeping pump
and PV arrays as close as possible.
 The connections are properly made as instructed in the manual.
 The solar PV array should be installed either on an automatic or on a
manual or in affixed as per the space available at the site usually manual
(east west tracking) or automatic (two axis tracking) tracking are
recommended to maximize the water output.
 The solar PV array should be installed carefully at a proper location to
avoid shadowing of any part of the solar PV array or other obstructions
throughout the day, any time of the year.

2.7.1 Solar PV Array Installation

Solar PV array is one of the main components of any solar PV water pumping
system. Thus, the performance of the solar PV water pumping system highly
depends on the proper installation of solar PV array (Fig. 2.13).

21
First, determine the position where array needs to be installed. The solar PV
array is to be installed carefully at a proper location to avoid shadowing of any
part of the array or other obstructions throughout the day any time of the year.

Fig. 2.13: Solar PV Array Installation

The output from the solar array is maximum when solar radiation falls
perpendicular to the surface of the module. Since the sun moves all day, in
order to keep the array facing the sun it is advised to use a manual tracking 3
or 5 times of a day is recommended.

Following three factors will influence the performance of the array:

(i) Shading

When a solar panel is shaded in whole or part, for example, by tree branches
and or a building, it captures less energy from the sun, thus its performance is
reduced. Less voltage and current will be produced. This is because most
solar cells are connected in series such that if one of the cells is not producing
some energy the output will be reduced.

Even minor shading can result in significant loss of energy.

It is recommended that the solar PV system be installed on rooftop so as to

minimize the effects of shading from the buildings and trees.

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(ii) Orientation

In the Southern Hemisphere, North is the best possible orientation. If the solar
PV is to be mounted on vertical walls, the orientation should preferably be
between North-East and North-West. If the solar PV is to be mounted at a tilt,
a wider range of orientations will still give a reasonable energy yield.

(iii) Tilt

A tilted array will receive more light than a vertical array. Any angle between
vertical and 150 off horizontal can be used. For self-cleansing, a minimum tilt of
150 to the horizontal is recommended to allow the rain to wash dust off the
solar panels. For a north facing panel, the recommended tilt angle is between
300 to 600. The solar module has to be installed at a tilt angle approximately
equal to the latitude of the area.

2.7.2 Controller Installation

Controller is another major component of solar PV water pumping system. As

already explained in the earlier section, controller takes DC inputs from solar
PV array and supplies pulsating DC or variable frequency AC to the motor.
Pump care should be taken that the MPPT range of the controller and the
array output voltage match properly. As explained in the above section 2.6.2, it
is always advised to keep the controller box closer to the array to avoid the
cable losses.

The number of panels in series and parallel should be selected suitable to the
MPPT inputs of the controller.

Also ensure that the motor & pump and the controller output are compatible.

In view of the high DC voltages available in the controller, ensure proper

grounding. It is also advised that the farmers should not open the controller
box for purpose of repair to avoid high voltage DC shocks.

2.7.3 Motor and Pump installation

The task involved in the installation of motor or pump depends upon the type
of water resource and the depth of the water. In case shallow sources such as
lake, canals, and open wells where the depth of water is less than 10 m,

23
always use surface types of pumps. All the techniques used in the installation
of conventional pumps should be adopted here. Avoid sharp bends and also
use the right kind of diameter both for suction and delivery pipes. The friction
losses are less in PVC pipes compared to GI pipes.

When the depth of the water resource is high, say more than 6 meter up to 100
m, submersible pump of suitable number of stages (check the manufactures
guidelines) should be used. Avoid usage of reducers or bends as they
normally create impediments and reduce the head. In case of bends always
use smooth band rather than sharp 90o bands.

In order to pump the water for long distances you need extra head to counter
the fractional losses. You can consult the fraction loss table given (in
manufacture manual) to estimate the additional head required to pump the
water for long distances.

2.8 LET US SUM UP

Operational cost of diesel operated pump is high and simultaneously polluting

the environment. Irregular electricity supply is a big constraint for farmers for
sustainable irrigation.

Solar PV water pumping is an eco-friendly, cost effective and viable solution

for providing assured irrigation to the agriculture field that may result in higher
agricultural production.

Solar PV water pumping system have four major components namely solar PV
array that directly generates electricity from the sun’s light with no moving or
wearing parts; controller an electronic device, which provides the appropriate
power to the motor and pump; electrical motor, which drives the pump; and a
pump with number of stages which lifts water under pressure.

Installation of solar pump is one of the important and highly skilled tasks that
only knowledgeable service person is competent to do the installation of the
Solar PV pumping system to get satisfactory output. A farmer must carefully
read and understand installation instructions given in the manufacture

24
installation manual before the actual start of Solar PV water pumping system
installation at farmers field a for correct installation.

2.9 SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Following are the few important questions a farmer has related to Solar PV
water pumps:

1. How does Solar PV water pump work?

Solar water pump works on the same principle as any other pump set work.
However, only difference is that the solar energy is used instead of non-
renewable energy for its operation. When sunlight falls on the solar panels it
produces direct current (DC) which then is used to run electric motor to pump
out the water. However, in case of AC motors, the DC produced by solar
panels is converted to AC using an inverter.
2. How is SPV water pump more useful than conventional electric pump?
The solar water pump has following advantages over conventional electric
pumps:
 Solar water pumps are operated by the energy received from sun and
do not require any fuel or electricity.
 Operational cost is very low as once installed, do not incur the recurring
costs of electricity or fuel.
 Does not get affected by power cuts, low voltage, etc.
 Can be installed in remote areas where electricity is unavailable or
diesel is difficult to procure.
 Incurs low maintenance costs as solar water pumps have fewer moving
parts as compared to a diesel-powered pump and thus, fewer chances
of wear and tear.
 No lubricants required for operation.
 Easy to operate.
3. What are the different types of Solar PV water pumps?
There are several different types of solar-powered pumps available but
primarily the following four types of solar water pumps are common:
 Submersible pumps: A submersible pump is located deep below the
ground level and remains submerged under water. The installation and

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 maintenance of these pumps are costly as by digging of bore well is
required. The suction head of these pumps is beyond a depth of 10
metres.
 Surface pumps: The surface pumps remain out of water and in the
open. The installation and maintenance of these pumps are easier as
these pumps are on the surface. They are installed where the water
table is within a depth of 10 metres.
 DC pump: This pump runs on a motor which operates on direct current,
therefore no battery or inverter is needed in this type of pump.
 AC pump: The motor of this pump operates on alternating current,
which means the direct current produced by the solar panels gets
converted to AC using the inverter. The conversion from DC to AC
leads to loss of power from generation and consumption.
4. How do I know which water pump (i.e. a submersible or a surface
pump) is suitable for me?
The water pumps are selected based on the following:
(1) The selection of water pump is done based on the groundwater level
and the water source. In case of a bore well with a water table deeper
than 10-15 metres, a submersible pump is used. In case of open water
source (open well, pond, etc.) or when the water level is less than 10
metres, a surface pump is used.
(2) Based on the classification, the following types of motor pump sets are
available:
 Surface mounted motor pump set
 Submersible motor pump set
 Floating motor pump set
 Any other type of motor pump set after approval from test centres of
the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
5. Which is better a DC or an AC pump?
Actually, DC pumps have higher efficiency as compared to AC pumps
and inverter is not required for operation. However, the cost of DC pumps
is higher as well as, the repair and maintenance of DC pumps are difficult
in rural and remote areas due to lack of service centres in these areas.

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6. How much area can an irrigation pumping system irrigate?
Normally, depending on the groundwater levels and the type of irrigation
required for a particular crop, a water pump is used for irrigation.
Generally, two acres of land can be irrigated with a 2 hp pump. However, a
7.5 hp pump can be able to irrigate about 10 acres of land.
7. What are the capacities at which solar water pumps are available and
what is the average discharge rate?
The motor pump set for irrigation and domestic drinking water should have
a capacity in the range of 0.1 HP to 5 HP. Although, municipal and rural
community applications could choose a higher capacity solar pump.
For a DC motor pump set, the discharge varies from 14-100 litres of water
per watt peak of solar PV array while for AC motor pump, the discharge
varies from 13-19 litres of water per watt peak of solar PV. The average
discharge, however, depends on solar intensity, location, season and
other factors.
8. Is it possible to relocate the Solar PV water pumping system?
Relocation of solar pumping system is possible, it can be possible using a
mobile mounting platform. The process is costly and may cause damage
to the system. Therefore, relocation of the solar pump system is not
advisable.

2.10 KEYWORDS

Photovoltaic Effect : Generation of voltage and electric current in a of

semiconductor materials by the exposure to sun light.
Solar Cell : It is an electrical device made up of semiconductor
materials used to converts sunlight directly into
electricity by the phenomenon known as photovoltaic
effect.
Solar module : It is a group of solar cells connected in series to give a
higher voltage output. Solar PV modules are
manufactured in standard sizes such as 36-cell, 60-cell
and 72-cell modules.

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Solar PV array : It is a system composed of number of photovoltaic
modules connected in series and possibly strings of
modules connected in parallel. It provides the energy
supply for the system.
STC : Standard Test Conditions

2.11 SUGGESTED READINGS AND REFERENCES

AURORE. 2016. Best practices in solar water pumping. Manual Published by

Auroville Renewal Energy (AuroRE) CSR Office Auroshipam, Auroville 650
101 (Tamil Nadu). Pp 1-46.
Jagan Nath Shrestha, Ajay Kumar Jha and Rajendra Karki. 2014. Training
Manual on Solar PV Pumping System. Published by GRID Nepal in joint
venture with Center for Energy Studies Institute of Engineering, TU. Pp 1-170.
Jeff Kenna and Bill Gillett. 1985. SOLAR WATER PUMPING A Handbook.
Intermediate Technology Publications, 103/105 Southampton Row, London
WC1 4HH. Pp 1-134.
Model Scheme on Solar Photovoltaic Pumping System (for farmers without
pumpsets). Manual published by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development Head office, Mumbai.
NSW Farmers, GSES. 2015, Solar-powered pumping in agriculture: A guide to
system selection and design. NSW Farmers, 2015.

Priyabrata Santra, P.C. Pande, A.K. Singh and Pradeep Kumar. (2016) Solar
PV pumping system for irrigation purpose and its economic comparison with
grid- connected electricity and diesel operated pumps Indian Journal of
Economics and Development, 4 (4), April 2016.

SNV. 2015. Solar PV Standardised Training Manual. Developed by SNV for

the Rural Solar Market Development. Pp 1-98.
SunRotor Solar Pump Installation Guide developed by the SunRotor Solar
Pumps 304 W. 12th St. Elk City OK. (www.sunrotor.com).

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 Case Study

Priyabrata Santra et al., (2016) conducted a study on comparison of life cycle cost
for 3 hp and 5 hp of electrified pumping system, diesel operated pumping system
and solar PV water pumping system used for irrigation and found that total life cycle
cost of 3 hp electrified pumping system, diesel operated pumping system and solar
PV pumping system are ₹4,11,944.00, ₹6,97,177.00 and ₹38,688.00 respectively.
The life cycle cost of 3 hp electrified pumping system, diesel operated pumping
system and solar PV pumping system are ₹5,49,115.00, ₹10,86,551.00 and
₹5,14,111.00 respectively. The complete components wise results are presented in
Table 2.2. It is clear from the study that the life cycle cost of 3 HP water pump for
electrified pumping system, diesel operated pumping system and solar PV pumping
system are ₹45,368.00, ₹76,782.00 and ₹38,688.00 respectively. Similarly, the life
cycle cost of 5 HP water pump for electrified pumping system, diesel operated
pumping system and solar PV pumping system are ₹60,475.00, ₹1,19,664.00 and
₹56,620.00 respectively. This is clear from the perusal of the table 2.2. that life cycle
cost of solar PV water pumping system is less as compared to electrified pumping
system and diesel operated pumping system. The annualized life cycle cost (per
year) of the diesel operated pumping system is approximately double the
annualized life cycle cost (per year) solar PV pumping system.

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Table 2.2: Comparison of life cycle cost of electrified, diesel operated and solar PV pumping system for irrigation

Sr. Parameters Electrified pumping Diesel operated Solar PV pumping

No. system pumping system system
3 HP 5 HP 3 HP 5 HP 3 HP 5 HP
system system system system system system
1 Life cycle 25 years 25 years 25 years 25 years 25 years 25 years
2 Solar PV panel cost (₹40/Wp) ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹1,40,000 ₹2,36,000
AC pump cost ₹30,000 ₹35,000 ₹0 ₹0 ₹30,000 ₹35,000
Electric connection cost at field ₹1,50,000 ₹1,50,000 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0
Inverter cost ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹20,000 ₹25,000
Mounting structure ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹25,000 ₹30,000
Cables and accessories ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹10,000 ₹10,000
Miscellaneous cost (30% of total cost) ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹67,500 ₹1,00,800
Total Capital cost ₹1,80,000 ₹1,85,000 ₹60,000 ₹70,000 ₹2,92,250 ₹4,36,800
3 Lifetime maintenance cost (1% of the capital cost) ₹16,344 ₹16,798 ₹0 ₹0 ₹26,536 ₹39,661
Maintenance cost (5% of capital cost) ₹0 ₹0 ₹27,240 ₹31,780 ₹0 ₹0
4 Replacement cost of AC pump (at 8th and 16th ₹21,700 ₹24,150 ₹0 ₹0 ₹21,700 ₹24,150
year)
Replacement cost of diesel (at 6th, 12th and 18th ₹0 ₹0 ₹63,600 ₹74,200 ₹0 ₹0
year)
5. Replacement cost of inverter (at 10th and 20th ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹10,800 ₹13,500
year)

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 Operational cost ₹0 ₹0 ₹5,46,337 ₹9,10,571 ₹0 ₹0
Average use of diesel pump in a year for irrigation
= 200 days x 6 hrs per day; Assumed diesel price
= ₹47.9 per litre; Energy value of diesel = 10.5
kWh per litre; Diesel pump efficiency = 30-35%;
Energy generation by diesel pump = 3.4 kWh per
litre.
Operational cost (Average energy charge @ ₹1,93,900 ₹3,23,167 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0
₹5.00/kWh with escalated price of 5% and
average hours of operation in a year is 6 hours
per day for 200 days)
6. Total life cycle cost ₹4,11,944 ₹5,49,115 ₹6,97,177 ₹10,86,551 ₹3,51,286 ₹5,14,111
7. Annualized life cycle cost (per year) ₹45,368 ₹60,475 ₹76,782 ₹1,19,664 ₹38,688 ₹56,620
Source: Priyabrata Santra et al

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