Evaluation of a solar powered water pumping system in Mutomo, Kenya : Comparison between a submersible induction motor and a PMSM system

Abstract: An existing solar-powered water pumping system located in Mutomo, Kenya has beenevaluated in this paper. The requirement for this system is to produce a minimum of25m³ water per day throughout the year.The aim of this thesis is to investigate theperformance of the currently installed system and find a suitable replacement in termsof efficiency and economic viability. In order to acquire the necessary knowledge forthis project, a literature study was carried out to analyse the research within the area.Three simulation models were created which all include an electric motor driven by aphotovoltaic array and are connected to a submersible groundwater pump. Allmodels utilise space vector pulse width modulation. One model of an inductionmotor that represents the currently installed system, one induction motor thatdelivers a minimum of 25 m³ water per day, and one model of a permanent magnetsynchronous motor for comparison. Simulations using weather data, representing anaverage day for each month of the year were carried out. It was shown that thecurrently installed system does not fulfil the requirement of producing 25 m³ waterper day, and in addition produces a significant amount of energy that can not beutilised. It was also shown that the efficiency of the permanent magnet synchronousmotor was superior to the induction motors. In order to compare the systems interms of economic viability, price quotations from world leading manufacturers wereacquired. The results of the economic comparison show that the superior efficiencyof the permanent magnet synchronous motor was not enough to compensate for thehigher investment cost.