An Intelligent Grid Integrated Solar PV Array Fed RSM Drive-Based Water Pumping System

This article deals with an intelligent grid integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) powered water pumping system driven by three-phase reluctance synchronous motor (RSM) drive. Here, a dc-dc converter is utilized for executing maximum power point tracking algorithm. A voltage source inverter is used for feeding the dc power to a three-phase RSM, from a solar PV array. A three-phase voltage source converter is used at the grid side for a bidirectional power transfer among the utility grid, water pump, and the PV array. This system provides rated water discharge throughout the day despite change in atmospheric conditions and feeds the surplus power to the three-phase utility grid. Moreover, during fault in any of the sources, the performance of the water pump remains unaffected. A high efficiency RSM drive without position/speed sensor is utilized here to drive the water pump. An intelligent power sharing concept, between the PV array and the grid, is used here, in which, automatic switching among all operating modes happens according to the availability of the PV array power and the grid supply. Moreover, the preference is given to the PV array power over the grid supply because of its availability at no cost. This control provides inherent power quality improvement and unity power factor operation at the grid side in all operating modes. The suitability of the system is tested through test results recorded on an experimental setup developed in the laboratory.