PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SOLAR POWERED PUMP BASED ON A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR SMALL SCALE AREAS USING NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Field experiments had been carried out in 2015 (January - May) at the Experimental Farm of Soil and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, located at Inshas City, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt which represents sandy soil conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the solar water pumping system 15 minutes period all day long from 8:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. through three normal days in 2015 (January - May). Solar water pumping system performance was evaluated. Its correlation with solar radiation intensity, module efficiency, pumping system efficiency and overall system efficiency was measured. Soil water movement under drip irrigation system was carried out using neutron scattering meter to determine soil moisture before irrigation, after irrigation, after one hour irrigation and after two hours irrigation. System evaluation was made for the photovoltaic pumping system by estimating solar radiation intensity, output generated power from photovoltaic (PV) and hydraulic power. PV modules were used as a power generator which convert solar radiation into electricity directly to operate water pumping system and pump water through drip irrigation system. The PV system was installed to irrigate 288 m2 with a monthly daily average hydraulic power of 184, 157 and 141 W with generated electric power 1055, 1021 and 1003 W at 12:00 p.m. in May, April and March at 1085, 1073 and 1065 W/m2 solar radiation intensity, respectively. The results show that the maximum overall efficiency, pumping system efficiency and module efficiency of the PV pumping system were 3.93%, 26.28% and 14.97% respectively at solar radiation intensity 1085 W/m2 in May, 3.29%, 22.49% and 14.64% respectively at solar radiation intensity 1073W/m2 in April and 2.92%, 20.14% and 14.49% respectively at solar radiation intensity 1065W/m2 in March. Keywords: Solar energy; Solar pumping system; PV module efficiency; PV module temperature; Pumping system; Neutron scattering meter.