Multifunctional Grid Supported Solar Water Pumping System Utilizing Synchronous Reluctance Motor

Synchronous reluctance motors (SyRMs) due to their attractive benefits over conventional ac machines, better efficiency, robust design and absence of rare-earth permanent magnets, offer an attractive solution to applications such as solar power-based water pumping. However, in the case of solar power, due to its diurnal nature, is unfeasible for an uninterruptible water supply. To overcome this drawback, a grid-interfaced system combined with a solar PV array is developed. In this work, a grid-PV interfaced system coupled with a water pumping load, driven by SyRM, and additional domestic loads are presented. Single-phase grid is integrated with the solar PV system (via a boost converter) and its DC link through a rectifier and power factor correction enabled boost converter, to enable unidirectional power flow from the grid. A single-phase H-bridge voltage source converter is also included in the system to enable supply from the DC link to the domestic loads. The unity power factor and reduced total harmonics distortion are achieved through the implemented control. The feasibility of the water pumping and load supply on the developed system is validated on a laboratory prototype designed to operate this system under simulated climatic conditions. © 2022, The Institution of Engineers (India).