Whale Optimization Based MPPT for Partial Shaded PV Powered Water Pumping System Driven by SRM

Water Pumping Systems (WPSs) play an essential role in meeting the daily needs of society; however, they often demand a significant amount of energy, which can exert pressure on the main electrical grid. Establishing autonomous Photovoltaic (PV) powered WPSs in both rural and urban regions is recommended to alleviate the pressure on the utility grid. WPSs are frequently utilized for agricultural, potable, and industrial applications. The switched reluctance motor (SRM) is attracting interest from researchers because of its many benefits, among the different types of motors on the market. This study examines the performance of an 8/6 pole SRM in order to optimize torque output for the purpose of lifting water from significant depths below the surface. Nevertheless, the addition of batteries to WPSs may lead to a rise in the total expenses and necessitate regular upkeep, such as replacing batteries more often because of their shorter lifespan in comparison to PV modules. Hence, this document suggests the integration of a photovoltaic-powered switched reluctance motor-operated wireless power transfer system, employing a sliding mode control for a sensorless speed based direct torque control. Furthermore, the integration of a Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) with the Perturbed & Observed (P&O) mechanism aims to enhance energy harvesting from PV cells, particularly in scenarios of partial shading. The hybrid WOA-P&O approach has been seamlessly incorporated with the converter controller in order to remove the necessity of an additional DC circuit for the utilization of the maximum power point tracker. The article conducts thorough OPAL RT based Hardware- in the – Loop to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach across different scenarios.