Experimental design and validation of a domestic solar-powered water pumping system for urban areas with irregular supply

Abstract In many urban areas of Morelia, Michoacán, the water supply is intermittent, compelling residents to store water in cisterns and pump it to rooftop tanks using conventional electric systems. This study proposes the design and experimental validation of a domestic solar photovoltaic water pumping system as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for regions with irregular water supply. A sizing methodology is presented, which accounts for the required water volume, flow rate based on solar hours, barometric head, and losses due to friction and fittings. To validate the proposed system, an experimental case study was conducted using a 330 W PV panel, a 300 W buck converter, and a 48 W pump, achieving a flow rate of 6.9 L/min and a total dynamic head of 12.57 m. The results show that under real operating conditions, the system demonstrated an efficiency of 29.9% and a service capacity of 4.14 individuals per hour of effective sunlight or 1208.8 m3 per year considering 8 hours of effective sunlight. In addition, the experimental results were validated using the PVSyst simulator, which indicated an annual pumped water of 1204 m3 per year, which closely matches with the experimental results. The results confirm the technical feasibility of the proposed alternative to improve water access in vulnerable urban areas with irregular supply.