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S. B. Bopche
About 20% of the world’s residents live in remotely and electrically disconnected
areas. Electrifying these areas by conventional ways imply huge capital investments
and intense infrastructures. However, Microgrids (DC microgrids) based on renewable energy sourced generation and storage systems may be appropriate and cost
effective solution. The systems working on direct current supply have its own benefits like lesser complexity and affordable operating systems. The difficulties involved
in case of AC based electrical generators are as: synchronizing complexity, optional
requirement of last stage inverter, huge investment and losses associated with it. All
these shortcomings are totally removed in case of DC generators. The DC based
home appliances comprise LED lighting, TVs, Laptops, charging units etc. The AC
based appliances include fans, refrigerators/air conditioning systems. Such efficient
appliances drastically reduce the domestic electricity consumption leading to cheaper
and compact systems. Electrification of rural and remotely based locations is a big
and inevitable challenge in order to empower the life of millions of inhabitants of
such places, in a maintainable ways (Gandini and Almeida 2017).
Wazed et al. (2017) have evolved and examined the Solar Powered Irrigation
Systems energized by Photo-Voltaic and solar based thermal technologies, which
may be utilized by individual agriculturalists in small-scale remote rural agricultural
lands. The remote hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh have been facing inconsistent
water availability and supplies issues since longer time. The only dependable source
is ground water supply. The remotely located farmers and localities have to cope
up with larger installation investments required for the erection of bore wells and
purchase of generator and pumps. The operational costs are also higher due to day by
day hiking of conventional fuel prices and routine maintenance requirements. The
technology desires to be evolved and importance/stress/emphasis should be put on
the renewables based energy options.
An irrigation system based on renewable energy option uses PV panels for generating electrical power by extracting energy from solar power. It may be used for
energizing electric motor in order to run/drive a pump. The system may be improved
with the employ of batteries and storage water tanks. Solar PV panels produce DC
power, which needs to be supplied to AC motor pump unit via an inverter. In modern
times the PV based irrigation systems become more reachable to the remotely located
agriculturists, by mitigating the installation as well as operational costs of PV based
power generation technology. It is reported that in order to irrigate one hectare farm
land a power of about 1 kW is required, which can be meet through the use of PV
panels. The permanent magnet type DC motors are preferred for irrigation purposes
owing to its high efficiency, torque and easy starting capabilities as compared to AC
motors. The positive displacement pump and diaphragm type pump are generally
used for higher and lower water head requirements, respectively.
A PV power based solution scheme proposed for retrieving ground water for the
purpose of irrigation of farm land is as shown in Fig. 3.1.
The drawbacks of PV technology comprise: (1) degradation of PV cells due to
long term exposure (0.8% per year), (2) harmful manufacturing technology of PV
cells, (3) use of batteries and transportation may promote carbon footprints of the
technology and (4) performance loss due to accumulation of dust (Wazed et al. 2017).
S. B. Bopche
About 20% of the world’s residents live in remotely and electrically disconnected
areas. Electrifying these areas by conventional ways imply huge capital investments
and intense infrastructures. However, Microgrids (DC microgrids) based on renewable energy sourced generation and storage systems may be appropriate and cost
effective solution. The systems working on direct current supply have its own benefits like lesser complexity and affordable operating systems. The difficulties involved
in case of AC based electrical generators are as: synchronizing complexity, optional
requirement of last stage inverter, huge investment and losses associated with it. All
these shortcomings are totally removed in case of DC generators. The DC based
home appliances comprise LED lighting, TVs, Laptops, charging units etc. The AC
based appliances include fans, refrigerators/air conditioning systems. Such efficient
appliances drastically reduce the domestic electricity consumption leading to cheaper
and compact systems. Electrification of rural and remotely based locations is a big
and inevitable challenge in order to empower the life of millions of inhabitants of
such places, in a maintainable ways (Gandini and Almeida 2017).
Wazed et al. (2017) have evolved and examined the Solar Powered Irrigation
Systems energized by Photo-Voltaic and solar based thermal technologies, which
may be utilized by individual agriculturalists in small-scale remote rural agricultural
lands. The remote hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh have been facing inconsistent
water availability and supplies issues since longer time. The only dependable source
is ground water supply. The remotely located farmers and localities have to cope
up with larger installation investments required for the erection of bore wells and
purchase of generator and pumps. The operational costs are also higher due to day by
day hiking of conventional fuel prices and routine maintenance requirements. The
technology desires to be evolved and importance/stress/emphasis should be put on
the renewables based energy options.
An irrigation system based on renewable energy option uses PV panels for generating electrical power by extracting energy from solar power. It may be used for
energizing electric motor in order to run/drive a pump. The system may be improved
with the employ of batteries and storage water tanks. Solar PV panels produce DC
power, which needs to be supplied to AC motor pump unit via an inverter. In modern
times the PV based irrigation systems become more reachable to the remotely located
agriculturists, by mitigating the installation as well as operational costs of PV based
power generation technology. It is reported that in order to irrigate one hectare farm
land a power of about 1 kW is required, which can be meet through the use of PV
panels. The permanent magnet type DC motors are preferred for irrigation purposes
owing to its high efficiency, torque and easy starting capabilities as compared to AC
motors. The positive displacement pump and diaphragm type pump are generally
used for higher and lower water head requirements, respectively.
A PV power based solution scheme proposed for retrieving ground water for the
purpose of irrigation of farm land is as shown in Fig. 3.1.
The drawbacks of PV technology comprise: (1) degradation of PV cells due to
long term exposure (0.8% per year), (2) harmful manufacturing technology of PV
cells, (3) use of batteries and transportation may promote carbon footprints of the
technology and (4) performance loss due to accumulation of dust (Wazed et al. 2017).