Solar-powered pump
Encyclopedia
A solar powered pump is a pump
running on the power
of the sun
. A solar powered pump can be more environmentally friendly and economical in its operation compared to pumps powered by an internal combustion engine
(ICE) or animal power.
A solar powered pump thus consist of 4 parts :
Solar array (photovolatic cells, solar panels) takes up 50% - 80% of the whole setup cost, which is the most expensive part.
There are two major types of solar pumps, DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current).
DC solar pump:
AC solar pump:
A solar pumping inverter is needed in AC solar pump setup. The inverter converts DC generated from solar array to AC to drive the pumps in the mean time (as the controller) to control output and speed.
If you have got a solar fountain at your home, then you must have learned that it is very convenient to install the solar fountain into your backyard. But the actual situation may be that you do not know what to do with your soar garden fountain or the tabletop fountain. After all, why should you pay to set up the solar pump while the process is so easy? The following 3steps will help you accomplish the setup and then just enjoy the beauty your new solar water fountain brings to you.
1. Initiate the pump
All kind of water pump, regardless of the electricity powered water pumps or solar powered pumps can not have a good performance if it is pumping air. To initiate the solar pumps, you need to put the body into the water so that the intake can fill with water and the air inside can be removed at the same time. This process takes little time but is quite essential. This step should be every time when is has ever been detached from the solar water fountain and has not worked for a period of time.
2. Expose the solar panel to sunlight
With the solar power as the energy source, you can place the solar powered fountain anywhere as you like, however be sure the solar panel must be located where the panel can receive maximum sunbeam. The longer the solar panel is exposed, the more power it will get for the fountain to work.
3. Get the debris out of the water
Though most solar powered pumps are equipped with a filter to prevent dust and waste from block the solar fountain intake, the choice of water type can still exert some influence the fountain performance. The fact is that the purer water enables more efficient pumping. The tap water which seems to be quite pure can also produce some minerals from the water in the pump. To prevent this, the distilled water can be used, which however would cost more. On the other hand, you can also change the water more frequently and pay more attention of the water cleaning.
. The majority of the pumps are fitted with a 200 watt - 3,000 watt motor are powered with 1,800 Wp PV array which can deliver about 140,000 liters of water/day from a total head of 10 meters. By 30 September, 2006, a total of 7,068 solar PV water pumping systems have been installed.
The installation of a Solar Array (Photovoltaic cells) not only provides a a sustainable power source for the Solar CIPs but can also provide an electric source to run remote SCADA type diagnostics with remote control and Satellite/Cell communications from very remote locations to the desk-top/notebook computer.
Pump
A pump is a device used to move fluids, such as liquids, gases or slurries.A pump displaces a volume by physical or mechanical action. Pumps fall into three major groups: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps...
running on the power
Power (physics)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
of the sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
. A solar powered pump can be more environmentally friendly and economical in its operation compared to pumps powered by an internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
(ICE) or animal power.
Components
Unlike a normal pump (such as positive displacement pumps, ...), the solar powered pump is actually a more of a dictionary phrase than a technical one.It is only used to describe that there's a pump, being powered by another device (such as solar panels), being powered by the renewable electricity generated from the sun (solar electricity).A solar powered pump thus consist of 4 parts :
- the actual fluid pump (that actually moves (pumps) gases or liquids under pressure)
- the controller (adjusting speed and output power according to input from solar panels)
- the engine (usually an electric motor)
- the energy source being powered by the sun (usually photovolatic cells (solar panels))
Solar array (photovolatic cells, solar panels) takes up 50% - 80% of the whole setup cost, which is the most expensive part.
There are two major types of solar pumps, DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current).
DC solar pump:
- power output up to 2kW
- suitable for small applications (garden fountain, landscaping)
- relatively low-priced (require slightly less solar panel)
- low compatibility (only selected controller work selected motor)
AC solar pump:
A solar pumping inverter is needed in AC solar pump setup. The inverter converts DC generated from solar array to AC to drive the pumps in the mean time (as the controller) to control output and speed.
- power output range from 150W to 55kW
- suitable for all kinds of applications from landscaping to irrigation, especially large scale such as farmland irrigation, desert control, etc.
- high compatibility (inverter works with different kinds of AC motor and pump)
If you have got a solar fountain at your home, then you must have learned that it is very convenient to install the solar fountain into your backyard. But the actual situation may be that you do not know what to do with your soar garden fountain or the tabletop fountain. After all, why should you pay to set up the solar pump while the process is so easy? The following 3steps will help you accomplish the setup and then just enjoy the beauty your new solar water fountain brings to you.
1. Initiate the pump
All kind of water pump, regardless of the electricity powered water pumps or solar powered pumps can not have a good performance if it is pumping air. To initiate the solar pumps, you need to put the body into the water so that the intake can fill with water and the air inside can be removed at the same time. This process takes little time but is quite essential. This step should be every time when is has ever been detached from the solar water fountain and has not worked for a period of time.
2. Expose the solar panel to sunlight
With the solar power as the energy source, you can place the solar powered fountain anywhere as you like, however be sure the solar panel must be located where the panel can receive maximum sunbeam. The longer the solar panel is exposed, the more power it will get for the fountain to work.
3. Get the debris out of the water
Though most solar powered pumps are equipped with a filter to prevent dust and waste from block the solar fountain intake, the choice of water type can still exert some influence the fountain performance. The fact is that the purer water enables more efficient pumping. The tap water which seems to be quite pure can also produce some minerals from the water in the pump. To prevent this, the distilled water can be used, which however would cost more. On the other hand, you can also change the water more frequently and pay more attention of the water cleaning.
Water pumping
Solar PV water pumping systems are used for irrigation and drinking water in IndiaSolar power in India
India is densely populated and has high solar insolation, an ideal combination for using solar power in India. India is already a leader in wind power generation...
. The majority of the pumps are fitted with a 200 watt - 3,000 watt motor are powered with 1,800 Wp PV array which can deliver about 140,000 liters of water/day from a total head of 10 meters. By 30 September, 2006, a total of 7,068 solar PV water pumping systems have been installed.
Chemical injection
Many oil and gas wells require the accurate injection (metering) of various chemicals, under pressure to ensure safe and environmentally sustainable operation. Historically, these chemical injection pumps (CIP) have been driven by a gas reciprocating motor utilising the well's gas and exhausting the gas into the atmosphere. As this results in adding to the Earth's Greenhouse Gas problems as well as other environmental issues, Solar Powered Chemical Injection Pumps (Solar CIP) have been a welcome development.The installation of a Solar Array (Photovoltaic cells) not only provides a a sustainable power source for the Solar CIPs but can also provide an electric source to run remote SCADA type diagnostics with remote control and Satellite/Cell communications from very remote locations to the desk-top/notebook computer.