Modelling and control of directly coupled PV water pumping system

Abstract

This paper consists of the modelling and control of a directly coupled PV water pumping system for rural areas in Angola. Water is a basic need for any human. No one on this earth can live without water. Every person needs water for different uses, such as drinking, cooking, agriculture, etc. There has been a rise in demand for water in Africa and around the world due to the exponential increase in the population. This increase in demand has forced the world to develop different alternative systems for water supply and transportation, such as the water pumping system, and one of these systems is the photovoltaic water pumping system. The population in rural areas of Angola has no access to water due to a lack of electricity to power the water pumping system. This research aims to develop an efficient PV water-pumping system tailored to alleviate water scarcity in rural areas. This paper explores the concept and performance of solar PV water pumping systems, focusing on their potential for off-grid and remote applications. It looks into several control strategies and optimisation methodologies to increase system efficiency and dependability. Furthermore, the paper consists of modelling and controlling a directly coupled PV water pumping system using MATLAB/SIMULINK. The results of the simulations show that the directly coupled PV water pumping system developed in this research could operate efficiently at its maximum power point with good power and voltage stability. The results also demonstrated that the proposed directly coupled PV water pumping system can fill two tanks of 1000 litres while it is operating and as soon as the water pump is disconnected. The water stored in the tanks can be used for the household's basic needs. Furthermore, an economic analysis was conducted, and it was found that the installation cost of the directly coupled PV water pumping system was less than that of the diesel water pumping system. It is essential to identify a cost-effective system so that most of the population in rural areas can access water. The directly-coupled PV water pumping system has been considered the best option regarding efficiency and cost. Angola and the rest of Africa have a wide range of climates, including desert and semi-arid regions and tropical rainforests, despite having enormous water resources. Access to safe drinking water is a significant issue in many parts of Africa. Therefore, an efficient water pumping system can use water resources well.