Solar photovoltaic water pump performance optimization by using response surface methodology

Abstract

AbstractThe constant depletion of the existing energy sources and their environmental effects have generated interest in employing renewable energy sources to power water pumping systems, such as solar‐photovoltaic. The research addresses the optimal photovoltaic (PV) power output, solar radiation, operating head, and tilt angle for maximum solar energy used to capture more solar radiation for solar water pumping for irrigation purposes. In order to get the best performance from the solar PV water pump, such as discharge (Q), hydraulic power (PH), pump efficiency (ήp), and overall efficiency (ήo), the design of experiments‐based response surface methodology was implemented in this work. The data required for the RSM model were obtained from the experimental work performed at location 28.67° N, 77.21° E, Delhi, India. The experiments performed at five different ranges of input variables PV power output (4000, 4250, 4500, 4750, and 5000 W), Solar radiation (200, 350, 500, 650, and 800 W/m2), operating head (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 m) Tilt angle (5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25°). The best output parameters The best conditions for a solar PV water pump (16.8 m3/h discharge, 1.85 kW hydraulic power, 81.15% pump efficiency, and 16.12% overall efficiency) were discovered to be Po 5000 W, SA 260 W/m2, Head 35 m, and TA 19°. The predicted result was validated using an RSM‐based solution, and the error% was found to be within acceptable limits (>5%). The desirability 0.963 of the model was indicating the good solution.