AgroFossilFree - Conversion of solar photovoltaic energy into hydraulic energy applied to irrigation systems using a manual sun tracking

Allgemeine Beschreibung

Brazil has an unexplored solar energy potential, and only 1.2% of the energy matrix come from photovoltaic energy. Besides, water pumping is an important form of development in rural areas (family farmers) mainly because of the distance from distribution centers. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the energy conversion in a water pumping system applied to irrigation, powered by photovoltaic energy, and compare with a static system with a single axis manual three-steps sun tracking system. Two arrays of panels were installed in the field at 22° 42’30” S; 47°38’00” W; 546 m above sea level. One photovoltaic module was static and the other a manual sun tracking device. Each module was connected to an individual water pump to simulate an irrigation system. The results showed that the pumping system with manual tracking device had better performance in the energy conversion from photovoltaic to hydraulic, with increments of 177 MJ m-2, 50.87 more pumping hours, and 66,135 L. However, the conversion energy efficiency from solar energy to water pumping was 4.55% and 4.77% for tracking and static modules, respectively. The manual sun tracking systems used in the photovoltaic module feeding a pumping system to irrigation was a technical alternative to improve the performance of the photovoltaic system.