Page 163 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource

LARGE-CAPACITY SOLAR POWER PUMPING SYSTEMS 133

Figure 5.14 Small solar water pump in a rural village in India.
Photo courtesy of SolarWorld.

The batteries used for most systems are slightly different than ones used in cars.
They are called deep-cycle batteries and are designed to be rechargeable and to
provide a steady amount of power over a long period of time. Details about the design
and application of battery systems are discussed in Chapter 3 of this book. In some
farming operations solar-powered water systems pump the water into large holding
tanks that serve as reserve storage supply during cloudy weather or at night.
In larger installations solar modules are usually installed on special ground- or pole-
mounting structures. For added output efficiency, solar panels are installed on tracker-
mounting structures that follow the sun like a sunflower. Figure 5.14 depicts a small
solar water pump in a rural village in India.

Large-Capacity Solar Power

Pumping Systems

A typical large-scale solar power pumping system, presented in Figure 5.15, is manu-
factured and system engineered by WorldWater & Power Corporation, whose head-
quarters are located in New Jersey. WorldWater & Power is an international solar
engineering and water management company with a unique, high-powered solar
technology that provides solutions to water supply and energy problems. The company
has developed patented AquaMax solar electric systems capable of operating pumps
and motors up to 600 horsepower (hp), which are used for irrigation, refrigeration and