Design and optimization of a solar-powered water pumping system for irrigation and water storage purpose

Abstract

The paper proposes a solution in the field of agriculture by introducing an effective way of irrigation. Renewable energy source is used in this off grid system as it is designed for isolated areas and places where water and utility supply are limited. A solar pumped hydro storage system is designed and optimized in this paper to ensure an uninterrupted irrigation system and accessibility of water in all the seasons. The surplus water is stored in the hydro storage for further usage with the help of a DC Motor driven by solar-power. In the system the output power of PV modules runs a DC motor and this motor runs the pump to lift water and irrigate the lands. The motor runs the pump to lift water from underground and uses the water to irrigate the fields. The pump again pumps the extra water from underground to fill the hydro storage for the rest of the day after completing irrigation. In our case we are considering the local ponds nearby the lands as the hydro storage of the system. In dry season when the groundwater level goes lower or at the time of water scarcity the pump uses the previously stored water in the hydro storage (pond) to irrigate the fields. Furthermore, the solar panels used for power supply will be levitated on the water storage. So that the solar panels do not occupy extra places in irrigated field. The paper brings a solution of this issue by considering the local ponds as the hydro storage to give uninterrupted water supply for irrigation during the whole year. The system cuts the cost of irrigation as there is no longer usage of diesel fuel, price of photo-voltaic modules, and the rate of solar irradiance in Bangladesh makes the system more efficient.