PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF A PV PUMPING SYSTEM IN A DESERTIC REGION – PART 1

A. MOUSSI

Abstract


Among the many applications of photovoltaic energy, water pumping systems stand out as a clean, reliable alternative suited to the needs of remote areas. This type of system essentially relies on the direct use of electricity generated by solar panels to power a pump, thus ensuring autonomous, economical, and environmentally friendly operation.

In the MENA region, climatic conditions are generally harsh, and ambient temperatures are generally high. This greatly influences the performance of PV systems due to the negative effect of temperature on the efficiency of solar modules, despite these regions being characterized by considerable sunshine. To address this problem, various solutions have been presented in the literature, such as air or water cooling, whether active or passive. However, some are not admissible in real-world applications.

This article aims to present an effective and innovative methodology devoted for PV pumping systems. A fraction of the pumped water is diverted to the PV generator for cooling and then reinjected back into the irrigation water flow. This improves the system's efficiency without any additional energy loss required to pump the cooling water. A theoretical simulation is performed, and an experimental platform is built to validate the results.


Keywords


Solar Energy, Photovoltaic Pumping, PV Panels, Active Water Cooling, Efficiency

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References


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