Solar Water Pumps for Central Kansas

1. Solar Water Pumps for Central Kansas Rylan E. Ortiz HORT 640 Sustainable Agriculture

2. Outline • Solar power as a renewable energy source. • History of Solar power • About solar energy • Theoretical discussion on solar power via PV’s • 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

3. Solar power as a renewable energy source. • Our Sun’s fusion of H → He drives photovoltaic cells to produce DC voltage.

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

5. Theoretic on Solar Power via PV’s • Light travels in pockets of energy called photons. • PV’s (Photovoltaics) absorb these photons and release electrons. • Electrons can then be captured by surrounding medium to generate electric currents → electricity!

6. 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.

7. Theory • Note: space technology helped decline PV’s expensive price through research • Soon industry caught glimpse of PV’s commercial potential.

8. 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.

9. Theory

10. 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!

11. 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

12. Why Solar Pumps in Central KS? • Ogallala Aquifer’s reservoir already supplies central and western Kansas with their water supply. • Solar power lowers conventional pumping costs by utilizing the Sun’s free and radiant energy.

13. 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

14. Theory of PV’s • PV’s on average are only 20-30% efficient • Thus 70 or more percent of the Sun’s 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 PV’s to shield from elements

15. From an Environmental Perspective • PV’s 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

16. Types of Potential Hazards

17. 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

18. 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!

19. 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