Modeling, simulation and efficiency assessment of a direct coupled water pumping PV system in semi-arid coastal areas

Abstract

Photovoltaics (PV) energy is a solution for the electrification of developing countries, especially for remote rural zones. The use of solar energy in water pumping is the most adopted solution for rural and desert regions. The modeling, simulation and analysis of the PV system of water pumping is a vital step before assembling this system on any place, which allows a better understanding of its behavior in real weather conditions on that place. In this paper, we investigate the performance of a water pumping photovoltaic system consisting of a PV generator coupled with a DC-motor which drives a centrifugal pump that draws water from a well and delivers it to a reservoir. The characteristics of the components of this system allow researchers, manufacturers, and social communities to understand better the functioning of these components. Our simulation results were meticulously cross-verified against the module manufacturer’s data sheet, revealing a maximum relative percentage error of 1.12 %. This attests to the coherence between the manufacturer’s stipulations and our simulated values. Furthermore, we ascertain commendable efficiency in the motor-pump system, particularly noteworthy for elevated irradiation levels, while maintaining acceptable performance even under minimal irradiation conditions.