Method for sizing water tanks in solar water pumping systems
Access to safe water supply is one of the must urgent problems in many developing countries. Most populations affected by this problem are in rural areas, where electricity distribution networks are not yet installed. In order to alleviate this crisis, the introduction of photovoltaic (PV) pumping systems provides an attractive solution to satisfy water needs, in terms of autonomy, reliability and performance. A solar pumping system consists of an array of PV modules that transform solar energy into electricity. An inverter converts the direct current (DC) generated by the array to alternating current (AC), that can then be used by a motor-pump unit, either submerged (in a borehole or a well) or an a river surface. DC motor-pump units can also be used. Instead of charging expansive batteries with the excess energy generated, the water is pumped and stored in a reservoir. This type of system yields excellent performances in real-time operating conditions. The site of the tank is, however, often roughly estimated in conventional design procedures. Consequently, problems such as the heavy financial burden of an over-sized tank or, on the contrary, a waste of water resources due to spillage in the case of a too-small tank are, unfortunately, quite common. These problems lead to dissatislaction among users when they have to deal with periods of personal water shortages and, in situations where the water is sold or used for irrigation, economic losses. The process introduced in this paper provides a design tool for sizing the water tank that goes further than mere « guestimates ».Analysis of the behaviour of the different components of a solar system was incorporated into computerized models, which were then validated with data gathered during field studies carried out in Senegal. The resulting software gives the designer flexibility to simulate different types of equipment under various operating conditions. The quality of the results depends closely an the accuracy of the parameters describing the equipment as well as on the reliability of the meteorological data. Different models are used in the software. The hourly climatic conditions (solar radiation and temperature) are simulated using the normal distribution. The model used to find the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the solar array has been developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The motor and centrifugal pump are modelled with a third order equation often used in practice. Finally, the optimal tank size is found with the volumetric method proposed by Al-Layla. From the climatic data the software enables the designer to study a typical day for a selected period of time, usually during the month with the lowest solar radiation. From the climatic data, the PV array output power for every hour of the day, the pumping flow-rate and finally the amount of water in the tank can be determined. Five scenarios of available sunshine have been calculated, allowing the designer to evaluate low-risk situations (low sunshine expected, thus larger equipment needed) and high-risk situations (higher sunshine, requiring smaller equipment). The software permits the prediction of performance for new systems as well as the diagnosis of existing ones. The system designer, in consultation with users, can then find the optimal size of the water tank (and possibly confirm the results obtained from the rule-of-thumb estimates) and better assess, with the help of a decision-making chart, the cost of a system and the risks of water shortages.