An Equivalent Solar Water Pumping System for Wells Applications in Diyala Governorate-Iraq

Abstract

Today, Solar Water Pumping Systems (SWPS) have become the most important applications of solar energy because it participated in withdrawing the water from the wells in areas that depend on the groundwater. Therefore, they have been used as alternatives to conventional electric and fuel pumps. The main objective of this study was to design and analyze the performance of SWPS for withdrawing the water from a 12 m well under the influence of the ambient conditions of Diyala Governorate, Iraq.  In addition, an economic analysis was conducted for the SWPS and compared with a conventional petrol pump used for the same purpose. The results show that the maximum average volume flow rate of water was reached about 2.87 m3/h at maximum solar irradiance between (998.8 to 1016.7) W/m2 with maximum PV panels efficiency and whole system efficiency about 6.6% and 2.3% respectively. On the other hand, the cost per volumetric water for the PV pumping system was recorded at about $0.0178 as compared with the cost of volumetric water of the petrol pumping system, which recorded $ 0.1 in case of subsidised price of petrol and $ 0.16 in case of not subsidized price of petrol.