Design and Simulation of Three-Phase Solar Power for Water Pumping

System
Pwint Thinn Myat#1, Kyaw Win Thein*2, Moe Moe#3
#
Department of Electrical Power Engineering, TechnologicalUniversity (Taunggyi)
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar
1Pwint Thinn Myat@pwintthinnmyat150044@gmail.com
2Kyaw Win Thein@kyawwinthein2376@gmail.com
3Moe Moe@dawmoemoesgg@gmail.com

Abstract– The main aim of this paper is to design and
simulate a solar powered drip irrigation system that can
provide water for irrigation without the use of batteries,
utility power or diesel engines. This research has designed the
system such that necessary power can be obtained from solar
panel arrangement to run the water pumps which pumps
water from underground and distributed to plantation fields.
In this paper, sizing of solar water pumping system for
irrigation of various crops plantation in Southern Shan
State is presented. The detail study for drip irrigation system
and water requirement is carried out at Heho PRIME Farms
Myanmar Ltd, Shan State. Currently, this farm is operated
by diesel engine pumping system. Thus running cost for
water supply is high. In this paper, the use of solar water
pumping and supply system is presented to replace diesel
engine based system. The daily water requirements for the
various crops were determined and the pumping system was
simulated using MATLAB/Simulink software. According to
the results, the water demand for crops plantation can be
fulfilled by the designed system.
. edition) for which "to irrigate is to supply water to an area
Keywords–Solar water pumping, Drip irrigation system, Water
requirement, MPPT controller, Three phase pump motor
I.INTRODUCTION
In this paper, solar power drip irrigation system using three
phase pump motors is presented. Drip irrigation is the
system that can take better advantage of photovoltaic
pumping. Over the past few decades, drip irrigation
systems have been developed which deliver drops of water
directly to the soil at the plant roots, requiring a small
fraction of the water needed to grow the same crops by
conventional irrigation techniques. Drip irrigation has
efficiency (water savings) of 90%, and because of its
target, the plant roots, evapotranspiration and percolation
water losses are minimized [1]. The use of drip irrigation
in small parcels has proved to generate higher crop yield.
The smaller amount of water required for drip irrigation in
small plots make it possible to consider hand pumps and
solar powered pumps to meet the daily water volume
needs. Depending on the crop cycle, drip irrigation could
allow up to three crops per year to be harvested instead of
only a single crop in the rainy season of many tropical
locations. There is a good match between irrigation and
photovoltaic technology given that both, irrigation as
consumption and PV as generation is directly dependent to
the solar radiations. This means that when it rains or is
cloudy, irrigation is not needed because there is less
evapotranspiration due to the irradiation decrease. This is
convenient because under the same rainy and cloudy
conditions, the solar pumping would not generate as much
energy. The same applies to the opposite, on sunny clear
days the water demand of the plant increase and at the
same time there is more water pumped [2].
This study presents the design and simulation of solar
power drip irrigation system using three phase pump
motors. The watering method chosen is drip irrigation
powered by a submersible pump and drip pump motors
with 200-watt photovoltaic modules. The Perturb and
Observe MPPT method is presented for maximum power
extraction from PV modules. The water requirement
calculations with PV modules and pump motor sizing are
presented in this paper. Simulation is carried out with
MATLAB/Simulink.
II. Irrigation and Irrigation methods
Irrigation is water artificially applied to farm, orchard, and
horticultural crops [3]. This definition is very close to the
one given by Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (7th
of land through pipes or channels so that crops will grow
“Irrigation method or technique is the way water is
supplied to crops. There are five basics methods of
applying water to the soil:
- surface irrigation
- sprinkler irrigation
- subsurface irrigation
- micro-irrigation
- trickle/drip irrigation [4]
A. Surface irrigation
Surface irrigation methods are based on the principle of
moving a water stream over the surface of the land in other
to wet it, either completely or partially.
B. Sprinkler irrigation
It is the application and distribution of water over the field
in the form of a spray, or jet, which breaks into drops or
droplets created by expelling water under pressure from an
orifice or nozzle.
C. Subsurface irrigation
Subsurface irrigation involves the application of water to
crops via underground systems. In principle, two systems
can be distinguished, a buried trickle irrigation system and
a ditch water infiltration system.
D. Micro-irrigation
It is the slow application of water on, above or beneath the
soil. It includes surface drip (SDI), subsurface drip (SSDI),
micro-sprayers, or micro-sprinklers.
E. Drip (trickle irrigation)
The principle of trickle irrigation is to water the plants by
means of low flow pressure pipelines. Irrigation efficiency
is high, since losses by evaporation are negligible and Since 1kWh = 3.6 MJ, to get the energy in kWh,
percolation losses are low [5] ‘E’ in equation (2) is simply divided by 3.6
In this paper, the studied is carried out for the irrigation at E = 10-3 x 9.81 VH/ 3.6
high land area of tropical climate zone. The total area to = 2.725 x10-3 VH (in kWh) (3)
be irrigated is about 5 acres. The irrigation will be cone for Equation (3) can rewrite in the following form:
the whole summer about 120 days. Irrigation times are E = VH/ 367 (in kWh) (4)
assumed to be one hour at morning and one hour at The hydraulic energy needed to lift a certain amount of
evening. The design is carried out to supply sufficient water is proportional to the product of the amount of water
water under all conditions. The estimated daily water to be lifted and the height through which it is lifted, the so-
requirement is 90,000 liters/day (90 m3/day).
called volume- Head product. Only a small fraction of the
available solar radiation is convertedto hydraulic energy.
III. Solar Energy for Pumping Application
Only about 10-15% of solar energy input is converted to
A water pumping system needs a source of power to
electrical energy. Perhaps the most promising future PV
operate. In general, AC powered system is economic and
cells will consist of thin films [8]. These films are not
takes minimum maintenance when AC power is available
single crystal device, so there are limitations to carrier
from the nearby power grid. However, in many rural areas,
mobility and subsequent device performance. However, in
water sources are spread over many miles of land and
spite of the non- single- crystals structures, laboratory
power lines are scarce. Installation of a new transmission
conversion efficiencies exceeding 17% have been achieved
line and a transformer to the location is often prohibitively
[9]. Due to the relatively low efficiency of solar cells, solar
expensive. Windmills have been installed traditionally in
cells, solar pumping is recommended only under some
such areas; many of them are, however in operative now
circumstances or conditions as follow:
due to lack of proper maintenance and age. Today, many
Village water supply: volume- head product VH< 800m4
stand- alone type water pumping systems use internal
And daily insolation> 2.8 kWh/m2
combustion engines especially diesel engines. These
Irrigation: volume head product VH < 250m4 and daily
systems are portable and easy to install. The consumption
insolation > 3.0 kWh/m2 [10]
of fossil fuels also has an environmental impact, in
particular the release of carbon dioxide into the
V. Design Calculation for Solar Power Drip Irrigation
atmosphere [6]. The use of renewable energy for water
System
pumping systems is, therefore, a very attractive
For this research study, the detail study is carried out at
proposition. Windmills are a long-established method of
Heho Prime Farms Myanmar Ltd. It is located in Heho
using renewable energy; however, they are quickly
Township, Southern Shan State. The specific location is
phasing out from the scene despite success of large-scale
North latitude 21. 27 degree and East Longitude 96. 38
grid-tied wind turbines [7]. PV systems are highly reliable
degree. The location map of selected area is shown in
and are often chosen because they offer the lowest life-
Figure 1. The important data for selected farm is as follow:
cycle cost, especially for applications requiring less than
Total area = 5 acre
10 kW, wheregrid electricity is not available and where
Head = 30m
internal-combustion engines are expensive to operate. If
Water requirement per acre = 18m3/acre
the water source is 1/3 mile (app. 0.53 km) or more from
Total water requirement = 90m3
the power line, PV is a favorable economic choice.
Flow rate = 90m3/5 hr = 18 m3/hr
The water requirement is for summer.
IV. Water Requirement with Drip Irrigation System
In general, the daily maximum power (Hydraulic energy)
required to lift water is;
𝑄𝐻𝑔
E= (1)
𝜂
Where;
Q= mass of water delivered per day in ton/day or m3/day.
(1kg = 1 liter, Q = V)
Fig.1 Map of Heho Prime Farms
H = Static head in m
G = acceleration due to gravity (9.81m/s2) Presently, this farm is operated by diesel engine pumps for
η= total system efficiency at maximum flow irrigation. For application of solar power drip irrigation
Provided those units, the result will be in kJ. To convert in system using three phase pump motors, the system block
MJ, ‘E’ is multiplied by 10-3 diagram is developed as shown in figure2(a), arrangement
Formula (1) can be rewritten as follows: of system components in figure 2(b).
E = 10-3 x 9.81 VH (in = kJ) (2)
 Deep Well For calculation of drift pump motor power rating, the
And
Submersible
required powerof drift pump is formerly calculated as
Pump
follow:
Where;
Reservoir
𝜌 = density of the pumped medium(1000kg/m3)
G= gravity acceleration (9.81 m/s2)
Q = Flow rate (m3/s)
3ɸ
DC- DC
AC VA
3ɸ
H = Total head (3m)
+ +
PV Vpv
Array -
Converter
(Regulator)
Vdc
-
Three-Phase
Inverter
VB Motor
(Pump)
Field
ηpump = 40% (40 to 60%)
VC
Taking drift motor efficiency as 80 %, the required power
Fig.2(a) System Block Diagram
is obtained as follow:
DC/DC
Boost DC/AC
3 kW Drift
Flow Rate = 90m3/hr x 1/3600s = 0.025m3/s
Converter Three
with Phase Pump Motor 𝜌𝑔 𝑄 ℎ
MPPT Inverter P pump =
ɳ𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝
Controller
1000 𝑥 9.81 𝑥 0.025 𝑥 3
=
0.4
reservoir = 1839.4 W
𝑃 𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝
P motor=
ɳ𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟
1839.4
=
0.8

5 kW
= 2300 W
Submersible
Pump Motor Thus, 3 kW drift motor is selected for drip irrigation. In
pump motor calculations, the friction losses are neglected.
Fig. 2 (b) System Arrangement C. Selection for PV module
In solar PV application, the installation with correct tilt For the selection of PV power rating, the daily average
angle can improve the efficiency of the system. Generally, energy demand (Ed) is obtained as follow:
the optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees Ed = (3kW x 1hr) + (5kW x 5hr) = 28kWh
to the latitude during winter, and subtracting 15 degrees The required daily average energy demand (Erd) is
from the latitude during summer. In this study, the PV obtained as follow;
based irrigation is intended for Summer. Since the selected 𝐸𝑑
Erd =
ɳ𝑖𝑛𝑣 ɳ𝑐
location is at 21.27 degree North latitude, the tilted angle is 28
needed to set at 6.27 degree. =
0.95 𝑥 0.95
= 31.02 kWh
A. Design calculation for Submersible Pump Motor Then, the average peak power of PV module is calculated
For the pumping of water from the deep well, a 𝐸𝑟𝑑
P aver, peak =
submersible pump motor is selected. The required power 𝑇𝑠ℎ
Where, Tsh = the peak sun hours (5 hrs./day)
rating of submersible pump is calculated as follow: 𝐸𝑟𝑑
P aver, peak =
𝑇𝑠ℎ
Water Requirements = 90 m3/ day. 31.02
=
5 ℎ𝑟
Head = 30 m
= 6.2 kW
Time = 5 hr.
The power rating of PV module is selected as 6.2 kW. To
Flow Rate (Q) = 90m3/5hr = 18m3/hr. x 1/3600s
obtain the required PV power, “Sun Power SPR – 200 –
= 0.005m3/s
𝜌𝑔 𝑄 ℎ
BLK – U” PV module is selected. The important
P pump = parameters of the selected modules are as follow
ɳ𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝
1000 𝑥 9.81 𝑥 0.005 𝑥 30 Pmp = 200 W
=
0.4
Vmp = 40 V
= 3678.75 W
Imp = 5A
Pump efficiency is taken as 40 % in above calculation. For
In this case, the derating factor of PV system is taken as 90
power rating of pump motor, motor efficiency is assumed
%. Then the series and parallel numbers of modules are
as 80 %. Then motor power rating is calculated as follow:
𝑃 𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝 obtained as follow:
P motor= VDC = 600 V
ɳ𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟
3678.75 𝑃 𝑎𝑣𝑔,𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘
= IDC =
0.8 𝑣𝑑𝑐
= 4598 W 6.2𝑘 𝑥 0.9
=
600
Thus, 5 kW motor is selected for submersible pump.
= 9.3 A
B. Design Calculation for drift Motor 𝑉𝑑𝑐 600
Nsm = = = 15 nos of series modules
𝑉𝑚𝑝 40
𝐼𝑑𝑐 9.3
Npm = =
𝐼𝑚𝑝 5
 = 1.86 2 numbers of parallel strings. L = 6.495 x mH
Ntm = Nsm x Npm = 15 x 2 Fc = 400Hz
1 1 -5
= 30 nos of total modules C= = =2.437 10 F
(2𝜋 fc)2 L (2𝜋𝑥 400)2 𝑥6.495𝑚

VI. Modeling of System

As mentioned in the last section, “Sun Power SPR – 200 –
BLK – U” PV module is selected for modeling of the
system. There are 15 numbers in series and 2 parallel
strings. The power versus voltage characteristic curves for
the selected PV system is shown in Figure 3(a) and 3(b)
For the selected 5 kW submersible pump motor and 3 kW
drift pump motor. The simulation model for solar power
drip irrigation system usingthree phase pump motors is
shown in Figure 4.

Fig. 3(a) Power versus Voltage Characteristics of PV aray for Different

Temperature and Constant 1000W/m2 Irradiation
Fig. 4 Simulink Model for Solar Power Drip Irrigation System using
Three Phase Pump Motors

Fig. 3(b) Power versus Voltage Characteristics of PV Array for

VII. Simulation and Analysis
Different Irradiations and Constant 25 C Temperature
For simulation of model MATLAB 2016a
software is used. The simulation time is set as 1 second.
D. LC calculation for boost converter
The sampling time (Ts) is set as 1  second. The
In an ideal circuit, the output power of the converter is
measurements are done for PV output voltage and current,
equal to input power which yields, P in = P out = 6.2 kW
the active and reactive power consumed by each motor.
F s = 5k Hz
𝑃 𝑖𝑛 6.2 𝑘 The speed and torque produced by the pump motors are
V in = 500V, I in = = = 12.4 A
𝑉 𝑖𝑛 500 also measured. Figure 5 through Figure 9 shows the
𝑃0 6.2 𝑘
V o = 600v, I o = = = 10. 33 A simulation results for the designed system. For all
𝑉𝑜 600
The current rating of inductor should be always higher conditions, the input radiation set as 1000 W/m2 and
than that of the maximum output current temperature is set as 25 C. The motor torques are assigned
∆𝐼𝐿 as 19.1Nm for 3 kW motor and 31.8 Nm for 5 kW motor.
( = 0.3), ∆ 𝐼 𝐿 = 0.3 x 10 .33 = 3.1
𝐼𝑜
The selection of inductor value of the Boost
converter is calculating using
𝑉 𝑖𝑛 500
L= = = 0.03226 H
𝑓𝑠∆𝐼𝐿 5𝑘 𝑥 3.1
Where ∆ Vo is the output voltage ripple which is usually
considered as 5% of output voltage which yield
∆ 𝑉𝑂
= 5%, ∆ 𝑉𝑂 = 600 𝑥 0.05 = 30
𝑉
0
For the duty cycle “D “the average output voltage can be
calculated using, Fig. 5 PV output voltage and current
𝑉0 1
=
𝑉 1 −𝐷
600 1 𝑖𝑛
=
500 1 −𝐷
D = 0.1667
The selection of capacitor value can be obtained from
𝐼 𝑜𝑢𝑡 10.33 -4
C =(𝑓 = = 4.131x 10 F
𝑠 ∆𝑉 𝑜)𝐷 5𝑘 𝑥 30 𝑥 0.1667
B. LC calculation for Inverter
𝑃𝑜 8𝑘
I rated = = = 11. 547A Fig.6 Active and Reactive Power consumed by 3kW pump motor
√3 𝑉𝑙 √300𝑥 400
Fig. 5 shows the PV output voltage and current. According to
(Po= 8kW, VL = 400, f sw =5k Hz, V dc = 600) the simulation results, the PV output voltage is about 480 V and PV
output current is about 10.2 A. Fig.6 describes the active and reactive
𝑉𝑑𝑐 power consumed by 3kW pump motor. The active power of the pump
0.2 I rated =
8 𝑙 𝑓𝑠𝑤 motor is about 3.1 kW and reactive power is about 2.7 kVAR. Thus the
600 𝑤
power factor is about 0.754 (lagging).
0.2 x 11.547 =
8 𝐿 𝑥 5𝑘

Fig.7 Active and Reactive Power Consumed by 5kW Pump Motor
Fig.7 shows active and reactive power consumed by 5kW
pump motor. According to the simulation results, the active power of the
pump motor is about 5.2 kW and reactive power is about 3.5 kVAR. Thus
the power factor is about 0.83 (lagging).
Fig.8 Speed and Torque Output from 3kW Pump Motor
Fig.9 Speed and Torque Output from 5kW Pump Motor
Fig.8 illustrates speed and torque output from 3kW
pump motor. The output speed of this motor is 150 rad/sec
and the output torque is about 19 Nm. These values are
suitable for 3 kW, 4 pole induction motor. Fig.9 expresses
the speed and torque output from 5kW pump motor. The
output speed of this motor is about 150 rad/sec and the
output torque is about 32 Nm. It is the full load torque of
this motor.
According to the simulation results, the PV output
voltage and currents are correct for operation of pump
motors. The output voltage and currents are also suitable
for pump motors operations. The active power, reactive
power, torque and speed of both motors are also correct for
proper operations
VIII. Conclusion
In this paper, the application of solar PV system for
irrigation is designed and simulated. The drip irrigation
system was used and the requisite daily water requirement
for Heho Prime Farms Myanmar Ltd was computed. Then
MATLAB/Simulink software was used to simulate the
solar- powered pump for the irrigation system. Design
calculations are carried out based on water requirement
and available solar power. In all, the pumping system is
able to supply the required water for all the months. To
conclude, this paper presents how in irrigation we can
integrate solar photovoltaic technology without the use of
batteries, generators, diesel engines etc. In other words,
providing necessary energy by cutting cost and other
factors effectively which is very essential to a developing
country like Myanmar. Thought the initial costs of the
solar panels and the pump are comparatively high, in the
long run it is a simple, good investment. In future, panel
efficiency will have a considerable improvement with
increased research work and the cost will significantly
decrease with the growth in demand and the usage of PV
technology. In further study, the cost analysis for diesel
engine based and PV based irrigation systems should be
executed for the selected case.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTT.
The author would like to thank U Kyaw Win Thein,
Lecturer, Department of Electrical Power Engineering,
Technological University (Taunggyi) for her helpful and
valuable guidance. The author also has to say thank Daw
Moe Moe, Dr. Naing NaingHtun and all the teachers from
Department of Electrical Power Engineering,
Technological University (Taunggyi) for their support and
guidance.
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