PV powered, solenoid controlled piston type water pump

This thesis presents a new technique to control a photovoltaic (PV) powered piston type water pump using a pair of solenoids with their associate control electronics and mechanical set-up. The power required is supplied from photovoltaics.; The common way to control a photovoltaic powered piston type water pump, is by a readily available DC-motor gear type mechanism. This mechanism converts the rotational motion of the motor, to linear motion of the pump piston; it is expensive, large, and requires complicated electronic circuits for efficient pump operation.; The solenoid method is intended to replace this bulky and expensive mechanism. A pair of solenoids and a simple logic circuit with electronic power switches are the only required electronic parts. Extra capacitance in the photovoltaic power circuit supplies the energy bursts needed, limiting the PV panel number. This set-up does not need extra electronic control for the photovoltaic power supply. The restricted solenoid linear motion makes necessary the design and fabrication of a special mechanical set-up so that the full potential of the pump can be realized.; The performance of the water pump system with each technique is presented, analyzed and compared. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...