Solar Powered Irrigation Pumping System/SPIS/
Towards Basic Concepts and Implementation of 60 SPIS in Seven Regions
Learning/Training Workshop & Experience Sharing
Zeleke Belay
Irrigation Specialist/SHIDEP Team Leader
Butajira Ethiopia
Major Topics
ISSUE Knowledge Actions & Outcome
Context Understanding: Implementing Pilot Project
Opportunities for Solar-Powered Preparing Yourself for
Basic Applied Activities
# 60 Surface Solar Pumps
Water Pumps in Ethiopia
Introduction & Site Selection
1 4 Solar Pump Concepts 7
Potentials in Ethiopia Criterion
2 Intervention In Ethiopia 5 Components of SPIS 8 Agreed Modality
3 Major Challenges 6 Design Principles 9 Experience Sharing
Some of other Applications of Solar
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❹Solar Water Pump System Concepts
Photovoltaics: When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed
by the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an
internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.
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4….Solar Pumping Power system
• electric pump is
AC System
DC System
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❺Type of solar Pumps
1) Submersible Pumps Types of installation systems
In a centrifugal submersible water pump, the DC
or AC motor is kept in a waterproof enclosure
that is directly connected to the pump.
Submersible pump to lift
water from Submersible pump to lift
The pump and motor together are placed under water from a borewellSubmersible pump to
the water. In the submersible solar water pump lift
system, water is generally drawn from a bore water from a borewella borewell
well or in some cases a surface water source
using a floating platform.
Submersible pump to lift water from a borewell
Submersible pump installed on a float to lift water from a surface water
source
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Pump Types
2) Surface Solar Pumps Surface pump to lift water from a shallow tube well or
There are two general types of pumps used in bore well
solar water pumping applications - centrifugal
and positive displacement. Both centrifugal and
positive displacement pumps can be further
classified as:
(1) Surface Pumps (motor mounted on
the surface)
(2) Submersible Pumps (motor placed
into the water)
Floating Pumps 7
❻ Components of Solar Water Pumping System
• PV Modules
• Pump motor
• Pump drive (MPPT/VFD)
• Mounting structure and tracking system
• DC-rated circuit breakers/ disconnects
• Earthing system and conductor
• Lightning protection system
• Surge protection device
• Combiner box rated with IP 65 and UV
resistant
• DC Cables
• Water level sensor, float switch
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Pre-Pump Selection : Understanding Water Sources
Important aspects of surface water when
used for pumping
• Level of water surface and seasonal
variation – direct impact on pump
performance and quantity of water
delivered
• Quality of water – mineral content,
abrasive particle content – impact on
pump life, threat to health, crop growth,
soil quality
• Possible impact on water sources due to
flood, rain, erosion, draught–
contamination, muddy water, sewage
water, sedimentation, erosion
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Water sources
Groundwater Consideration
• Depth of water in well due to seasonal
variation – direct impact on pump
performance and quantity of water
delivered
• Well diameter – Open well or bore well
diameter determines drawdown, and
water yield (how much water can be
extracted at a time) and decides what
pump can be used.
• Quality of water – mineral content,
abrasive particle content – impact on
pump life, threat to health, crop growth,
soil quality
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Water demand
Demand assessment Maslow’s needs assessment
The amount of water required depends on
for what activities water is used and the
priorities of such activities. Typical water
demand and hierarchy of water
requirements (after Maslow’s hierarchy of
needs) has been presented in the Figure
Water demand in Irrigation
o Type of crop and growth cycle
o Climatic conditions
o Type and condition of soil
o Land topography
o Water management system
o Water distribution system efficiency
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Selection Pumps
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Total Dynamic Head
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Method of calculating Delivery head
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Typical Installation
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Drawdown head calculation
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Pressure Head calculation
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Friction head
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Friction loss from pipe types
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Friction loss from Pipe fittings
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Water pumping power demand
• .
Check Pump Curve and Select
the best operating points of
the pump p in KW
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Solar Power tracking
Solar pumping hours are diffèrent for diffèrent places. Use the Following major tips and their
guides
• Solargis solar resource maps [Link]
• POWER Data Access Viewer [Link]
• European Commission’s Photovoltaic Geographical Information System:
[Link]
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Design principles of Solar Water Pumps
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Design Process of Solar Water Pump
• Water Supply Capacity and Water demand
• Water Quality
• Irrigation System Layout and Storage Height and Sizing
• Pump flow rate and Total dynamic head
• Pump Selection
• Solar Panel Selection and Solar Array Layout
• Final Design Package---WaterCAD or EPANET
• Bill of Materials
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Mounting Structure
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System Installation – General instruction
• Use of appropriate tools and equipment - required for PV system, water pump and pipe
installation work
• Consideration of varying water levels – to ensure that the pump does not run dry at any time
• Protect the pump inlet – from sand and dirt
• Earthing – Ensure that the earthing system is intact its continuity and is connected to the
ground (earth)
• Pipe length, diameter, and friction loss – ensure that the size of pipes is selected according to
the water flow rate to minimise friction loss
• Protect the control equipment – from dust, water, and sunlight
• Protect the well and PV array – from animals, people, and natural calamities
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Cabling and Interconnection Instructions
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Tool kits necessarily
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Installation of PV array
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Installation of motor pump unit
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Pump Suction Strainer
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Submersible Installation
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60 pumps installations
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Pump Selection Tips /Product Quality
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Key Features of Key Components
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Supplier Selection
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