Comparative Investigation of Performance for Off-Grid Solar Pump for Further Application in Agriculture Farms: A Case Study in Thailand
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
eISSN
27304175
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85213317284
Journal Title
Engineering Access
Volume
11
Issue
1
Start Page
134
End Page
140
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Engineering Access Vol.11 No.1 (2025) , 134-140
Suggested Citation
Techo J., Trairat P., Techo J., Techo S., Pinthong T., Palamanit A. Comparative Investigation of Performance for Off-Grid Solar Pump for Further Application in Agriculture Farms: A Case Study in Thailand. Engineering Access Vol.11 No.1 (2025) , 134-140. 140. doi:10.14456/mijet.2025.12 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/102753
Title
Comparative Investigation of Performance for Off-Grid Solar Pump for Further Application in Agriculture Farms: A Case Study in Thailand
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Abstract
Thailand's agricultural sector, with its substantial farming population, relies heavily on irrigation from small canals to sustain the cultivation of crops such as rice, corn, cassava, and sugarcane, which are replanted at various intervals throughout the year. This study evaluates the efficiency and economic viability of a direct-coupled solar water pumping system without storage, utilizing three distinct types of DC pumps—centrifugal, reciprocating, and submersible—each with a power rating of 750 W. The field tests were conducted concurrently under controlled conditions in a specific rural area in Thailand, with each pump connected to 3×340 W photovoltaic (PV) panels. The performance analysis revealed that the centrifugal pump achieved the highest efficiency, followed by the reciprocating pump, with the submersible pump ranking last. However, despite its lower efficiency, the submersible pump demonstrated the shortest payback period of 1.7 years, compared to 2.2 years for the centrifugal pump and 3.0 years for the reciprocating pump. These findings highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate pump type based on specific irrigation requirements and system design, as each pump offers unique advantages for different solar water pumping applications and areas.