Implementation of a Solar Pumping Test Bench Controlled by Speed Variator

Abstract

In this paper a solar pumping test bench controlled by a speed variatorwas presented. The studied bench consists of a photovoltaic generator, a DC-DC controller, a storage battery, a DC-AC converter, a speed variator, an asynchronous motor and a powder brake replacing the centrifugal pump. The test bench was described block by block while presenting the characteristics given by the manufacturer. The performance and characteristics of the used photovoltaic panels have been practically determined and compared with those given by the manufacturer. Finally, measures were taken for different drive speeds of the asynchronous motor in order to see the advantages of variable speed solar pumping compared to fixed speed pumping.The studied bench can serve as a didactic platform for testing and measuring a photovoltaic pumping system driven at variable speed.