Solar Water Pumps for Central Kansas

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Solar Water Pumps for Central Kansas

• Rylan E. Ortiz
• HORT 640
• Sustainable Agriculture

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Outline

• Solar power as a renewable energy source.
• History of Solar power
• About solar energy
• Theoretical discussion on solar power via PVs
• Industry solar power water pumps
• Why solar power water pumps in Kansas
• Calculations to question for a successful design
• Solar energy on the rise!
• Question and Answer

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Solar power as a renewable energy source.

• Our Suns fusion of H ? He drives photovoltaic
  cells to produce DC voltage.

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History of Solar Power

• Solar innovations began over 100 years ago
  (Industrial Revol.)
• Shelved for 50 yrs due to USAs fossil fuel
  search.
• Auguste Mouchout, French mathematician first
  developed solar energy research 1860

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Theoretic on Solar Power via PVs

• Light travels in pockets of energy called
  photons.
• PVs (Photovoltaics) absorb these photons and
  release electrons.
• Electrons can then be captured by surrounding
  medium to generate electric currents ?
  electricity!

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Theory

• PV effect first noted by Edmund Bequerel 1839.
• Certain materials produce small amounts of
  current with photon interactions.
• First Photovoltaic build in 1954.
• Too expensive for public use.
• 1960s space utilized this technology.

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Theory

• Note space technology helped decline PVs
  expensive price through research
• Soon industry caught glimpse of PVs commercial
  potential.

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PV Theory

• Photons absorb PV medium (a semi conductor
  material usually Silicon, Si)
• This wafer is treated to generate an electric
  field.
• Opposites attract. Positive and Negative
  terminals are connected to create an electric
  circuit.
• This electric circuit generates an electric
  current which is then harnessed to power a load.

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Theory
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PV Theory

• Solar cells connected together form a module.
• A series of modules forms an array.
• Wire these up in series or parallel figurations
  to help power your device.
• In this case
• Water Pumps!

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Industry solar power water pumps

• Produce water when it is needed the most when
  there is sun!
• Same idea as before
• Light photon interact
• Absorbed by wafers
• Wafers produce DC

Lorentz pump providing water in Eastern Colorado
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Why Solar Pumps in Central KS?

• Ogallala Aquifers reservoir already supplies
  central and western Kansas with their water
  supply.
• Solar power lowers conventional pumping costs by
  utilizing the Suns free and radiant energy.

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Calculations for a Design of a Solar Pump

• DEFINITIONS and FUNDAMENTALS
• LIFT vs. PRESSURE
• DETERMINE POWER REQUIRED TO PUMP WATER
• ESTIMATE THE COST OF SOLAR PUMPING
• HORSEPOWER vs. WATTS
• HORESEPOWER of COMBUSTION ENGINE vs. ELECTRIC
  MOTOR
• POWER AND ENERGY
• WIRE SIZING vs. VOLTAGE

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Theory of PVs

• PVs on average are only 20-30 efficient
• Thus 70 or more percent of the Suns energy is
  lost
• Design of a PV will need to be protected from the
  natural elements such as hail and wind
• A plastic is a durable source of covering for
  PVs to shield from elements

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From an Environmental Perspective

• PVs eliminate the need for fossil fuels once on
  the market
• PV electricity generates zero emissions
• Semi conductor manufacturing is one of the most
  hazardous industries in business
• Use of solvents, acids and bases for cleaning and
  preparing of the crystals

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Types of Potential Hazards
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Applications

• Deep well pumping
• Irrigation (lift and pressurized)
• Livestock (pipeline transfer, pond and stream
  protection)
• Home and village supply
• Camp sites, vacation cabins
• Water purification and treatment systems, Solar
  water heating
• Hydronic floor heating

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Why Solar Power?

• Lots of fuel! (4.5 by worth)
• Every 15 minutes the sun produces enough solar
  power to supply the world for an entire year
• FREE!

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Solar Energy Applications Gaining Ground!

• New Oil Projects Cannot Meet World Needs This
  Decade.
• Solar Light For Churches of Africa
• KSU Solar Car Racing Team
• New Classes HORT 640

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