Design of a PV-powered DC water pump system for irrigation: a case study

A PV-powered automatic irrigation system is designed and implemented in this paper. Dominant factors of the system such as the effect of solar radiation on motor power, current, and water discharge are considered in this study. The proposed system is implemented in the field to irrigate corn plant (maize) considering the optimum tilt angle for Duhok city. A new method for measuring the moisture content in the soil and sufficient level of moisture needed for normal growth of the crop is presented to design a timer for the system to reduce the amount of wasted water. Moisture sensors are used to check the availability of water in the soil and to enable the microcontroller to control the operation status of the pump. The results show that the proposed irrigation method is more accurate and efficient than the conventional irrigation methods in terms of the amount of the water used for irrigation, and the accuracy of irrigating times based on changing local climate. The results clearly demonstrate that the proposed system is more cost effective way of irrigation and more environmental friendly in terms of the amount of water used in an area known for water scarcity.