Introducing solar-powered irrigation for poor and remote areas

In times when the entire world is switching to solar, using the sun’s energy in water pumping systems can significantly help and accelerate the development of agriculture in African countries and many other poor remote areas. This concept is known as solar-powered irrigation and is used in many regions nowadays.

The truth is, solar energy might be the easiest way for farmers to produce energy, especially for those living off the electricity grids with poor infrastructure around their homes. Therefore, the use of solar water pump in agriculture is becoming increasingly popular. The concept of solar irrigation represents a virtuous circle—when the sun shines, it feeds the irrigation system and feeds the crops which are dependant on water in sunny weather. Therefore, a large quantity of energy is being released right at the time when it is needed the most.

Solar irrigation is a concept that works through solar water pumps. Below, we are describing them in detail.

What is a solar water pump and what are the most popular types?

Classification and types of solar pumps

When it comes to stand-alone solar pumping systems, the main types include rotating and positive displacement pumps or hybrid solar pump. Centrifugal pumps are the common choice for rotation and are designed for fixed head applications. Their output increases in proportion to their speed of rotation.

Additionally, pumps are also classified as submersible and surface pumps, based on their placement (underwater and above the waterline).

What Is the DC Submersible Pump?

The DC submersible pump as well as other types of submersible pumps look like a metal tube and their goal is to push the water to the surface. This type of pipe-look water pumps conceals the motor within the tube so that the liquid outside the pump does not get access to the electrical parts inside the pump.

The DC submersible pumps are versatile and can better accommodate with different working environments because they can be powered from a variety of independent DC power sources. The most common power sources for the DC submersible pumps are the solar modules, batteries, or generators. The DC submersible pumps with solar power supplies sometimes have a controller in order to enhance the current when the sunlight is low.

More Information on the Power Supply

Typically, the DC submersible pumps can operate on multiple volts of DC power such as 6V, 12V, 24V or 32V. There are some advantages of applying the direct current instead of the alternating current (AC). The first advantage is that the DC power system allows the submersible pumps to adapt to more power supply options such as batteries. It makes the machines portable and is more convenient to apply.

Also, the AC power system needs a controller to control the speed while the AC power system does not need such device. In most cases, the controller of the power system is only needed when the solar power modules are applied.

The DC submersible pumps are more energy efficient too; it takes less power to run a DC submersible pump than an Ac Dc submersible pump. However, there are limits to the DC machines as well. The DC submersible pumps have a shorter lifespan than the AC counterparts. Besides, though the DC machines are more energy efficient and easier to operate without a current controller, they tend to work in a rather lower speed and they are less powerful in pumping.The other common use of a submersible pump is for the oil wells. Whether it is an inland oil well or an offshore oil well, the submersible pump can pump out the oil from the ground and transfer it to the factory for further process. Some types of submersible pumps can also be used for drilling wells to a certain depth.The primary advantage of a DC submersible water pump is its convenience and ease of operation because the mechanism of the pump is simple and the power system allows more portability to the machine. If the users are looking for a reliable yet compact water pump with multiple power supply options, the Ac Dc screw submersible pump may just be the right choice for them.