Pumping Water with Solar Power

The "photovoltaic effect" is a physical process through which the photovoltaic cell converts sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is composed of photons. When photons hit the photovoltaic cell and are absorbed by it, it generates electricity. This happens because the photon's energy is transferred to the atom of the electron of the photovoltaic cell (semi-conductor material). Photovoltaic cells can be made from different materials and technologies. Some of these technologies, used in most commercial modules, include cells of monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline and amorphous. Using this technology, each cell produces a voltage direct current of about 0.5 volts and intensity in a steady stream of 1 to 8. This requires a significant amount of cells to produce significant voltage and power. Photovoltaic cells are interconnected with each other in groups ranging in number from 36 to 72 cells that produce an open circuit voltage of about 20 to 40 volts this set of cells form a photovoltaic module.

Solar water pumps

The solar pumps are designed to work in a direct current supplied by a photovoltaic arrangement. Due to the nature of this type of solar energy, systems have to make the most of solar energy, they need to maximize liters of water pumped per watt electricity consumed. They must also be capable of pumping water during periods of low sunlight. There are submersible pumps on the solar surface.

The pumps that are placed near the solar surface of the water source, are much cheaper than the submersible pumps, pumping little water per day, are found in models of centrifugal and positive displacement.

The submersible pumps that are introduced into the source of water, are made of stainless steel, allowing pump large amounts of water at low altitude, or little amount of water to great heights, for example, a multi-step centrifugal pump can pump 100,000 liters of water a day to 10 meters in height, a positive displacement pump (helical rotor) can be pumped to 200 meters high 5000 liters per day.

Other components:

Stand: The part of the team that supports the photovoltaic panel. Usually manufactured in anodized aluminum, is placed in it a number of photovoltaic modules. This structure must electrically landing, must withstand the winds that are recorded in the area of installation, so that its foundation is to be appropriate.

Electrical connection and protection elements: photovoltaic array is connected directly to a switch (on-off system), and this is connected to the controller of the pump, from the driver connects the solar pump, it is important to the sizing of the caliber of cable channel that goes to the pump as the standard for voltage drop should not exceed 3%, the cable must be of adequate size of the submersible, the union with the electric submersible pump to be used for packaging thermo contractile tightness in the power line. It incorporates a protection system against lightning discharges and landing system, both in the electrical and structure.

Driver: There are drivers with visual indication of how the system that can incorporate a level switch in the storage tank, this controller also allows adding different sources of energy to pump energy such as wind or even an electric generator to conventional gasoline or diesel fuel in this manner you can have a hybrid system of pumping.

Pipes: Pipes driving water from the pump to the storage tank, the diameter of the pipe and materials depend on the amount of water to be pumped, the distance of the route, the materials used are often PVC pipe, hose black Cedula 80 or galvanized pipe. Depending on the terrain through which the pipeline passes driving water is recommended to bury at least fifty centimeters to prevent possible leakage due to the deterioration of the material by exposure to sunlight, damage to it by other animals or traffic, etc.

Storage Tank: The storage tank is where the water is deposited until it is consumed. It is recommended to store enough water for consumption by at least three days, in case of any potential maintenance of equipment. If there are several points of consumption is recommended placing the storage tank in such a way that is the severity that is responsible for the distribution.