Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-04-19

Development of highly efficient optimized PV pumping systems. A consequent follow-up and finalization of past European-wide research efforts

Objective

The objective of the project is to develop and test optimized PV systems for water pumping. The main results expected from this project are the following:
1) An operational high-voltage inverter which allows for higher overall system efficiency.
2) Laboratory test results of centrifugal pump systems with and without short-term energy storage.
3) An operational prototype of a PV driven linear-lift pump.
Two PV pump systems and a high voltage inverter were designed. The high voltage inverter successfully reached efficiencies of 95% and demonstrated highest efficiencies over a large power range. An integrated DC current differential breaker prevented possible safety problems that could be encountered due to the high input voltage. The main advantages of the short-term energy storage system were seen under conditions of low and medium irradiance, where a standard system cannot overcome the initial irradiance threshold needed to get the pumping started. The linear lift pump prototype performed very promisingly, achieving efficiencies of about 40%.
The following main tasks will be performed by different European partners making use of their special expertise
1) In order to reduce power losses from the array to the inverter, a 3-phase high-voltage inverter will be developed. Safety problems encountered due to the high input voltage will be solved with an integrated direct current differential breaker.
2) Short-term energy storage devices which are discharged in case of low irradiance or cloudy conditions, allow for operation of centrifugal pumps close to the point of maximum efficiency. In the frame of this project laboratory tests of a PV pumping system with and without short-term storage for different irradiance profiles will be conducted. 3) In order to make use of the potentially high efficiency (60-80%) of a linear-lift pump, which is based on the traditional chain-and-washer pump, a PV prototype system will be developed, constructed and tested.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

WIRTSCHAFT UND INFRASTRUKTUR GMBH & CO PLANUNGS KG
EU contribution
No data
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (3)

My booklet 0 0