Pumping systems
In the area of transporting water and waste water there are a huge number of options. However, especially in a decentralised environment reliable, energy autonomous and cost effective water pumps are extremely important.
That's why some companies have developed pumps that can be driven by solar power as well as manually.
A large range of solar powered pumps are currently available: From very small ones - as the one below - to quite large solar pumping systems. One of the largest solar pumps currently available delivers about 160m³ day with a lift (meters head) of around 8 meters. The costs for the pump is well below ? 1,000. However, the solar power required for that kind of system is around 1,800 Wp. This shows that the bottleneck on price is not the pump but rather the energy supply. To improve the cost efficiency of solar powered pumping system is to use
- solar tracking devices (manual or automatic)
- water storage tanks to save on electrical components and battery
Solar well pump - Smaller system
A small solar well pump has many useful applications for family or for smaller farms
- Stock watering
- Drip irrigation
- Water supply for cabins and remote houses
- Any place where water is needed but no AC power is available
The more sunlight, the more water is pumped (this is ideal for stock watering and irrigation). Water is pumped even on hazy days.
- automatic operation for years
- minimal maintenance
- allows dry operation (for a few hours)
- tolerates mild sediments (ideally clear water)
- diameter of borehole required of 8 cm
- robust and reliable (constructed from brass and stainless steel)
- 1 x 12W solar panel for up to 10m depth
- 2 x 12W solar panel for up to 20m depth
- Type: LJ20-D with 2 crystalline solar panels of 12 Wp each
Pumping height / water quantity (liters/day with 6 hours)
Sunshine high medium low
Type: LJ20 5m 636 378 168
10m 462 294 138
15m 372 222 108
20m 264 168 72
Type: LJ10 3m 480 240 150
5m 390 198 114
7m 300 168 102
10m 240 108 66
Solar well pump - Smaller to medium size systems
According to the individual needs more powerful solar powered submersible well pumps are available. Anywhere between 5 to 200 meters lift height or between 1 to 60m³ per hour water quantity you will find suitable solutions. Either powered by solar cells, wind or a combination of PV and wind.
- Depending on the individual need those pumps will be delivered using plug an play solutions. That means all components are pre configured so that almost anybody can install the pumps, connect it to the electrical supply (PV, Wind..) locally. No special tools are needed. These systems are cheap to run and virtually maintenance free.
Solar well pump - medium to large size systems
| Solar power (Wp) | Voltage (V) | Lift height (m) | Max Flow rate (m³/h) |
| 100-300 | 24-48 | 0-50 | 0.8 |
| 100-300 | 24-48 | 0-30 | 1.2 |
| 100-300 | 24-48 | 0-20 | 2.7 |
| 300-500 | 48-72 | 0-140 | 0.5 |
| 400-900 | 48-72 | 140-180 | 0.5 |
| 300-500 | 48-72 | 0-80 | 0.8 |
| 400-900 | 48-72 | 80-140 | 0.8 |
| 400-900 | 48-72 | 40-90 | 1.2 |
| 400-900 | 48-72 | 30-60 | 1.9 |
| 300-900 | 48-72 | 0-50 | 2.7 |
| 400-900 | 48-72 | 0-30 | 3.6 |
| 350-500 | 72-96 | 0-140 | 0.5 |
| 400-900 | 72-96 | 140-240 | 0.5 |
| 350-400 | 72-96 | 0-80 | 0.8 |
| 400-1200 | 72-96 | 80-160 | 0.8 |
| 400-1200 | 72-96 | 40-120 | 1.2 |
| 400-1200 | 72-96 | 30-80 | 1.9 |
| 350-1200 | 72-96 | 0-60 | 2.7 |
| 500-1200 | 72-96 | 0-40 | 3.6 |
| 100-450 | 12-24 | 2-22 | 5.0 |
| 300-900 | 48-72 | 0-25 | 7.5 |
| 300-900 | 48-72 | 0-18 | 11 |
| 350-1200 | 72-96 | 0-40 | 7.5 |
| 350-1200 | 72-96 | 0-24 | 11 |
| 350-1200 | 72-96 | 0-15 | 21 |
| 350-1200 | 72-96 | 30-60 | 6 |
| 300-1800 | 72-96 | 2-40 | 11 |
| 300-1800 | 72-96 | 2-25 | 16 |
| 300-1800 | 72-96 | 2-12 | 22 |
Booster pumps for solar operation - provides city water pressure
It has been a standard in home renewable energy systems since 1986. It is economical for domestic water supply, drip irrigation and water purification. Use solar-electric power to provide 250 to 10,000ltrs per day from shallow water sources.
Solar powered booster pumps can push water as high as 140m (460ft). For 12 to 24V systems (1-2 solar modules or batteries in series) uses only one and the same motor and controller for solar direct or battery systems. Same flow at 12V or 24V ! The solar powered booster pump is not submersible, but can draw water from shallow wells, springs, cisterns, tanks, ponds, rivers and streams and push it through miles of pipeline. Applications can be drinking water supply, water purification and filtration, pressurising for home water systems, drip irrigation or water circulation in thermal solar collectors (max. +60 oC, +90 oC on request).
Slow pumping minimizes the size and cost of the solar array-battery system, wire and piping. The solar powered booster pump is more powerful, quieter and much more durable than plastic RV/Marine pumps. It is less expensive than submersible DC pumps.
Wearing parts typically last 5 to 10 years. Overall life expectancy is 15 to 20 years.
Suction Capacity is 5 vertical meter (20ft) at sea level. Subtract 1m for every 1000m altitude. Pump should be placed as low and as close as possible to the water source. Suction capacity my be further limited by intake pipe friction (or clogged filter) Intake piping should be 1? or larger.
Filtration Requirement: This kind of pump CANNOT tolerate dirt. Water MUST be filtered clear. If water is very dirty, improve the source or consider a different pump.
Battery operation is highly recommended.
Performance ranges from 5m - 140m (Total lift), 222l/h - 900l/h with power consumption from 35 Watt to 225 Watt.
In many developing as well as developed countries deep well hand pumps are the main source for the daily water supply of the people. Aquasolar is a solar powered drive system for new and already installed hand pumps. Well established pump technology has been blended with maintenance-free photovoltaic components to form this novel pumping concept.
SolarArkus is a a solar powered pump piston pump that can pump water from depths of up to 70 metres with a pressure of 1 bar. One or two photovoltaic modules (150-170 Watt each) are necessary for generating the required electrical energy. It is available with a membrane or deep piston pump.
Checklist for correct pumping layout
In order to select the best possible pump with the supporting PV or other renewable energy power supply the following questions need to be answered:
Well
- total vertical lift
- depth of well
- recovery rate
- length of pipe
- kind of water to be pumped
- storage tank available (recommended)
- static water level (m)
- dynamic well characteristics (m at m³/h)
- well diameter
- water quality
Other
- tank height
- tank volume
- volume of required water/day
- seasonal variations (e.g. rain season)
- distance (horzontal) between well and tank
- piping on site (total length, diameter)
- power supply (PV direct or indirect via battery)
