Linear current booster for solar FED DC pumps

Abstract

Solar Photovoltaic systems are now widely being used for pumping purposes like drinking and irrigation. If the system has got a battery backup, there will be enough matching between the load and the source. But the systems without battery backup results poor co-ordination between load and source and the panel may even become unable to power the electric motor loads. Electric motors need high current during starting; hence there should be a current boosting mechanism that efficiently couples the PV panel with the DC motor. So, in this paper a linear current boosting technology to run the motor even under low solar irradiant conditions without stalling is being proposed. Linear Current Booster (LCB) is nothing but a converter topology along with Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for the efficient working of a direct solar pump. Working of a solar PV fed direct current pump was being simulated with and without Linear Current Booster using MATLAB software. The efficiency of the solar pump was found increased more than 60% using this technology.