Mr Youkee Kong 
Solar Water Pump Solution in Drinking Water Supply
A solar-powered water pump provides a sustainable and efficient solution for domestic drinking water. It operates cost-effectively using free solar energy, eliminating fuel costs and ensuring operation even in power outages.
Highly reliable with minimal maintenance, it offers energy independence, improves access to safe water, and reduces environmental impact, making it an ideal choice for off-grid homes and environmentally conscious households.
Highly reliable with minimal maintenance, it offers energy independence, improves access to safe water, and reduces environmental impact, making it an ideal choice for off-grid homes and environmentally conscious households.
Solar Water Pump Working Principle
The working principle of solar water pumps is concise and ingenious, achieving water pumping by directly converting sunlight into mechanical energy. The system primarily consists of two core components: solar panels and the water pump. The workflow is as follows:
1. Energy Capture : The solar panels absorb energy from sunlight, generating direct current (DC).
2. Power Transmission : The DC electricity produced by the solar panels is transmitted via cables to a controller unit or inverter, where it is converted into power to drive the pump motor.
3. Pump Operation : The pumps are mainly divided into two types:
Surface Pumps : Installed above ground, suitable for drawing water from sources such as ponds or shallow wells and delivering it to storage tanks.
Submersible Pumps : Immersed in water, typically located deep within wells or boreholes, designed to push water from deep aquifers to the surface.
A key feature of this system is that its pumping speed adjusts according to sunlight intensity. During peak sunlight hours (e.g., midday), pumping is fastest, while at night or on cloudy days, the speed slows or even stops. Therefore, the water storage tank becomes a critical component, ensuring a continuous water supply even during periods of insufficient sunlight.
Tips：How to calculate Lift/Head?
Total Head (Total Lift):
Total Head = Vertical Lift Height + Friction Loss
Vertical Lift Height:
The vertical height from the driven water level to the highest point of the outlet. This is the most important part.
Pipeline Friction Loss (Friction Loss):
The pressure lost by water flowing through a pipeline due to friction. The smaller the diameter, the longer the pipe, and the more bends, the greater the loss. Typically, an additional 10% -20% head is added to compensate for this loss.h1: Lift underwater (the vertical distance between the water pump and the water surface)
h2: Lift above water (the vertical distance between water surface and the wellhead)
h3: The horizontal distance between the well and the water tank
h4: Tank height
Actual lift required: H=h1+h2+h3/10+h4
How to Choose
the Appropriate Solar Water Pump Model
Before designing a solar water pump system, the following key questions need to be clarified:
1.What is your water source type?
Is it a borehole/well, river, lake, or pond
2.If the water source is a well, what is the diameter of your well?
This will be used to analyze and select a submersible pump of the appropriate size.
3.What is the depth of your well (borehole)? What are the distance between the storage tank and the well, as well as the height of the storage tank?
This information will be used to calculate the "actual required lifting height" to identify the suitable pump.
4.What are your specific requirements for flow rate (liters/hour)?
Based on the calculated rated head (lifting height) and hourly water demand, select the most suitable pump model.
5.Are there any special requirements for the material of the pump?
Different material standards will affect the pump's price.
6.Is a supplementary battery power supply or AC input required as an additional energy source for nighttime use?
It determines whether we recommend the DC solar water pump or the AC/DC solar water pump.
7.Are there any other supplementary requirements?
If so, detailed communication and confirmation with the factory engineer are necessary.
Size Product example:
A Kenyan client informed us that he owns a deep well with a diameter of 120mm. The water level in the well is at a depth of h1=50m from the ground surface, the Water Tank height is h2=10m, and the distance between the Water Tank and the well is h3=40m. Their desired water consumption is Q=6m³/h, The customer expects the water pump to operate continuously at night, and they have a 220V AC power supply available to power the pump.
Based on the basic information provided by the client, we conducted the following analysis:
the client's rated head requirement is 50 + 10 + 40/10 = 64m, and the rated flow requirement is 6m³/h.
According to this information, we calculated and recommended the Z4PC9-125-300-2200-A/D model water pump.
This pump has a diameter of 95mm and Pump Outlet 2 inches, with specific performance parameters as follows:
|
Z4PC9-125-300-2200-ZSAD |
Head(m) |
120.0 |
110.0 |
100.0 |
80.0 |
60.0 |
40.0 |
20.0 |
10.0 |
|
Z4PC9-125-300-2200-ZSAD |
Flow(m3/h) |
2.5 |
3.9 |
4.6 |
5.8 |
6.9 |
7.9 |
8.6 |
8.9 |
How to Calculate the Solar Panel?
The power of the solar photovoltaic panel array should be recommended at 1.3-1.5 times or greater than the power of the water pump. Additionally, the voltage of the solar photovoltaic panel array must match the voltage range required by the water pump.
Example:
Based on the pump models we recommended above for the Kenyan client,
4 Inch Plastic Impeller Solar Submersible Pump Model: 4PC9-125-300-2200-A/D
Pump power: 2200 watts Optimal input voltage range: 80-430 V DC/ 80-285V AC Maximum open circuit voltage: 430 V DC
Requirements for the solar photovoltaic panel array:
- Power should be at least 2200 watts multiplied by 1.3 (which equals a minimum of 2860 watts)
- Voltage at maximum power point (VMP) should exceed 300 volts
- Open circuit voltage (VOC) should be less than 430 volts
Solar Panel Specifications: ZRI450W-36MH
- Power: 450 watts - VMP voltage: 41.5 volts - VOC voltage: 49.3 volts
8 solar panels connected in series:
- Total power: 450 watts x 8 = 3600 watts
- Combined VMP voltage: 41.5 volts x 8 = 332 volts
- Combined VOC voltage: 49.3 volts x 8 = 394.4 volts
In this scenario, the power and voltage requirements of the pump are met, making this solar photovoltaic panel array configuration suitable.
How to select extension cables
for Solar Water Pump?
The water pump is equipped with a 2-meter cable. The length can be customized to meet your specific requirements. Customers also have the option to extend the cable themselves.
Guidelines for selecting cables:
- Choose waterproof cables.
- Opt for 3-wire or 4-wire cables.
- For lengths below 50 meters, 2.5 square millimeter (sq) cables are recommended;
for 50 to 100 meters, 4 sq cables;
and for 100 to 200 meters, 6 sq cables.
If the required cable length exceeds 200 meters, it is advisable to select a ZRI solar submersible pump with an integrated controller.
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