Automatic Solar Powered Pumping System Design

Farmers spend a lot on conventional pumping methods to provide fresh water to their livestock. This paper deals with the design of an automatic pumping system for pastoral farming in rural areas. To replace the current conventional methods, this system is powered with PV panels which reduces cost because of saving on cost of electricity. Most pumps must be manually controlled hence the objective is to supply the water to the designated location via automatically controlled system without human interventions by implementing a suitable automation method. This is achieved by simulations through Microcontroller ATMEGA16 type programmed in embedded C programming language. This system involves solar modules and water level sensors. These sensors are located inside the water tank to detect the amount of water and then inform the farmer. Thus, from a remote location, the farmer can communicate with the pump for water level control in the tank via GSM module. If the water level reaches a level below the predetermined level, the pump should pump in water without farmer's notification to prevent motor run dry problems and so that water requirements are met. Consequently, reduction in environmental impacts as solar energy is clean and efficient, and thus it leads to effective use of water and electricity.