Mathematical modeling of direct-coupled photovoltaic solar pump system for small-scale irrigation

ABSTRACT

In this paper, for the first time, modeling of a photovoltaic solar pump system integrated with a drip irrigation system is presented. There is some complexity in the adaption of the operating point of the pump and photovoltaic panel, especially when connect to the drip irrigation system. A mathematical model has been proposed in this paper to validate PV small-scale irrigation pump. The proposed model is a novel method that evaluates the solar pump size system driving a drip irrigation system. Based on the model, the designation process has three stages: solar power generation, electro pump, and drip irrigation network. A mathematical model was applied to each of the three stages and interconnected. The effect of the ambient temperature on pumped water from the source was determined hourly for the days of a year. In addition, the effect of the panel tilt angle on the amount of pumped water in different days of a year is presented. The number of emitters in a small-scale irrigation is influenced by the flow rate and the drop pressure of the emitter. The results show that the ambient temperature has a significant influence on the amount of discharge water from the pump.

KEYWORDS:

• Photovoltaic solar pump
• mathematical modeling
• drip irrigation
• direct couple

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mahmood Chahartaghi

Mahmood Chahartaghi received the B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran in 2001 and the M.Sc. degree in the same field from Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran, in 2003. He obtained the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2009. He works as an associate professor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran. His research activities are mostly on Thermodynamics, Energy, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning systems, as well as Combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) systems.

Mehdi Hedayatpour Jaloodar

Mehdi Hedayatpour Jaloodar received the B.Sc. degree in Mechanical engineering from Mazandaran University, Mazandaran, Iran in 2005 and the M.Sc. degree in the same field from Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran, in 2008. He is currently pursuing Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering in Shahrood University of Technology in the field of renewable energy. He has been studying the use and optimization of solar water pump for 5 years.