Glossary Of Solar Energy Power and Water Pumping Terms
as well as energy-related terms.
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AC-ALTERNATING CURRENT - The standard form of electrical current supplied by the
utility grid and by most fuel-powered generators. The polarity and therefore the direction of
current alternates. In the USA, standard voltages are 115V and 230V: Standards vary in
different countries. Also see Inverter.
AMPS AMPERE - The unit of measuring electrical current. Can be compared to the flow rate of water in pipes. AMP HOURS - Unit to measure the amount of amps used per hour. ARRAY - Several solar panels arranged together, either in series or parallel. See PY. CONVERTER - An electronic device for DC power that step up voltage and step down current proportionally or vice versa. Electrical analogy applied to AC: See Trans former. Mechanical analogy: gears or belt drive. CURRENT - The rate at which electricity flows through a circuit, to transfer energy. Measured in Amperes, commonly called Amps. Analogy: Flow rate in a water pipe. DC DIRECT CURRENT - The type of power produced by photovoltaic panels and by storage batteries. The current flows in one direction and polarity is fIXed, defined as positive (+) and negative (-). Nominal system voltage may be anywhere from 12 to 180V: See Voltage, Nominal. ENERGY - The product of power and time, measured in Watt-Hours. 1,000 Watt-Hours = 1 KilowattHour (abbreviation: KWH). Variation: the product of current and time is Ampere-Hours, also called Amp-Hours (abbreviation: AH). 1,000 watts consumed for 1 hour = 1 KWH. See Power. GRID POWER - Electrical power as supplied by the utility company. See Utility Grid. INVERTER - An electronic device that converts low voltage DC to high voltage AC power. In solar - electric systems, an inverter may take the 12, 24, or 48M volts DC and convert it to 115 or 230 volts AC, conventional household power. OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE - Voltage of a solar panel (PV module) with nothing connected to it. The open circuit voltage of a 12 volt panel is typically between 17 and 20 volts. PHOTOVOLTAIC - The phenomenon of converting light to electric power. Photo = light, Volt = electricity. Abbreviation: PV. POWER - The rate at which work is done. It is the product of Voltage times Current, measured in Watts. 1,000 Watts = 1 Kilowatt. An electric motor requires approximately 1 Kilowatt per Horsepower (after typical effiCiency losses). 1 Kilowatt for 1 Hour = 1 Kilowatt-Hour (KWH). PV - The common abbreviation for photovoltaic. PV ARRAY - A group of PV (photovoltaic) modules (also called panels) arranged to produce the voltage and power desired. PV ARRAY DIRECT - The use of electric power directly from a photovoltaic array, without storage batteries to store or stabilize it. Most solar water pliInps work this way, utilizing a tank to store water. PV CELL - The individual photovoltaic device. The most common PV modules are made with 33 to 36 silicon cells each producing 1/2 volt. PV MODULE - An assembly of PV cells framed into a weatherproof unit. Commonly called a "PV paneL" See PV Array. SOLAR TRACKER - A mounting rack for a PV array that automatically tilts to follow the daily path of the sun through the sky. A "tracking array" will produce more energy through the course of the day than a "fixed array" (non-tracking), particularly during the long days of summer. STAND-ALONE SYSTEM - Refers to a solar water pumping system feeding a solar well pump, directly by the sun without the use of a battery bank. TRANSFORMER - An electrical device that steps up voltage and steps down current proportionally or vice versa. Transformers work with AC only. For DC, see Converter. Mechanical analogy: gears or belt drive. UTILITY GRID - Commercial electric power distribution system. Synonym: mams. VOLTAGE - The measurement of electrical potential. Analogy: Pressure in a water pipe. VOLTAGE DROP - Loss of voltage (electrical pressure) caused by the resistance in wire and electrical devices. Proper wire sizing will minimize voltage drop, particularly overlong distances. Voltage drop is determined by four factors: wire size, current (amps), voltage, and length of wire. It is determined by a consulting wire sizing chart or formula available in various reference tests. It is expressed as a percentage. Water analogy: Friction Loss in pipe. VOLTAGE NOMINAL - A way of naming a range of voltage to a standard. Example: A "12 Volt Nominal" system may operate in the range of 11 to 15 Volts. We. call it "12 Volts" for simplicity. VOLTAGE OPEN CIRCUIT - The voltage of a PV module or array with no load (when it is disconnected). A "12 Volt Nominal" PV module will produce about 20 Volts open circuit. Abbreviation: Voc. VOLTAGE PEAK POWER POINT - The voltage at which a photovoltaic module or array transfers the greatest amount of power (watts). A "12 Volt Nominal" A PV module will typically have a peak power voltage of around 17 volts. A PV array-direct splar pump should reach this voltage in full sun conditions. In a higher voltage array, it will be a multiple of this voltage. Abbreviation: Vpp. BOOSTER PUMP - A surface pump used to increase pressure in a water line, or to pull from a storage tank and pressurize a water system. See Surface Pump. CENTRIFUGAL PUMP - A pumping mechanism that spins water by means of an "impeller" Water is pushed out by centrifugal force. See also Multi-stage. CHECK VALVE - A valve that allows water to flow one way but not the other. DIAPHRAGM PUMP - A type of pump in which water is drawn in and forced out of one or more chambers, by a flexible diaphragm. Check valves let water into and out of each chamber. FOOT VALVE - A check valve placed in the water source below a surface pump. It prevents water from flowing back down the pipe and "losing prime" See Check Valve and Priming. POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP - Any mechanism that seals water in a chamber, then forces it out by reducing the volume of the chamber. Examples: piston (including jack), diaphragm, rotary vane. Used for low volume and high lift. Contrast with centrifugal. Synonyms: volumetric pump, force pump. IMPELLER - See Centrifugal Pump JET PUMP - A surface mounted centrifugal pump that uses an "ejector" (venturi) device to augment its suction capacity. In a "deep well jet pump", the ejector is down in the well, to assist the pump in overcoming the limitations of suction. (Some water is diverted back down the well, causing an increase in energy use) . MULTI-STAGE CENTRIFUGAL - A centrifugal pump with more than one impeller and chamber, stacked in a sequence to produce higher pressure. Conventional AC deep well submersible pumps and higher power solar submersibles work this way. PRIMIMG - The process of hand-filling the suction pipe and intake of a surface pump. Priming is generally necessary when a pump must be located above the water source. A selfpriming pump is able to draw some air suction in order to prime itself, at least in theory. See Foot Valve. PULSATION DAMPER - A device that absorbs and releases pulsations in flow produced by a piston or diaphragm pump. Consists of a chamber with air trapped within it. PUMP JACK - A deep well piston pump. The piston and cylinder is submerged in the well water and actuated by a rod inside the drop pipe, powered by a motor at the surface. This is an old-fashioned system that is still used for extremely deep wells, including solar pumps as deep as 1000 feet. SEALED PISTON PUMP - See Positive DisplAcement Pump. This is a type of pump recently developed for solar submersibles. The pistons have a very short stroke, allowing the use of flexible gaskets to seal water out of an oil-filled mechanism. SELF PRIMING PUMP - See Priming. SUBMERSIBLE PUMP - A motor/pump combination designed to be placed entirely below the water surface. SURFACE PUMP - A pump that is not submersible. It must be placed no more than about 20 ft. above the surface of the water in the well. See Priming. (Exception: See Jet Pump.) VANE PUMP Rotary Vane - A positive displacement mechanism used in low volume high lift surface pumps and booster pumps. Durable and efficient, but requires cleanly filtered water due to its mechanical precIsIon. DC MOTOR, BRUSH TYPE DC - The traditional DC motor, in which small carbon blocks called "brushes" conduct current into the spinning portion of the motor. They are used in DC surface pumps and also in some DC submersible pumps. Brushes naturally wear, down after years of use, and may be easily replaced. DC MOTOR, BRUSHLESS - High technology motor used in centrifugal-type DC submersibles. The motor is filled with oil, to keep' water out. An electronic system is used to precisely alternate the current, causing the motor to spin. DC MOTOR, PERMANENT MAGNET - All DC solar pumps use this type of motor in some form. Being a variable speed motor by nature, reduced voltage (in low sun) produces proportionally reduced speed, and causes no harm to the motor. Contrast: induction motor. INDUCTION MOTOR (AC) - The type of electric motor used in conventional AC water pumps. It requires a high surge of current to start and a stable voltage supply, making it relatively expensive to run from by solar power. See Inverter LINEAR CURRENT BOOSTER - See Pump Controller. Note: Although this term has become generic, its abbreviation "LCB", is a trademark of Bobier Electronics. PUMP CONTROLLER - An electronic device varies the voltage and current of a PV array to match the needs of an array direct pump. It allows the pump to start and to run under low sun conditions without stalling. Electrical analogy: variable transformer. Mechanical analogy: automatic transmission. See Linear Current Booster. BOREHOLE - Synonym for drilled well, especially outside of North America. CASTING - Plastic or steel tube that is permanently inserted in the well after drilling. Its size is specified according to its inside diameter. CABLE SPLICE - A joint in electrical cable. A submersible splice is made using special materials available in kit form. DROP PIPE - The pipe that carries water from a pump in a well up to the surface. PERFORATIONS - Slits cut into the well casing to allow groundwater to enter. May be located at more than one level, to coincide with water bearing strata in the earth. PITLFSS ADAPTER - A special pipe fitting that fits on a well casing, below ground: It allows the pipe to pass horizontally through the casing so that no pipe is exposed above ground where it could freeze. The pump may be installed and removed. without further need to dig around the casing. This is done by using a 1 inch threaded pipe as a handle. SAFETY ROPE - Plastic rope used to secure the pump in case of pipe breakage. SUBMERSIBLE CABLE - Electrical cable designed for in-well submersion. Conductor sizing is specified in millimeters, or (in USA) by American Wire Gauge (AWG) in which a higher number indicates smaller wire. It is connected to a pump by a cable splice. WELL SEAL - Top plate of well casing that provides a sanitary seal and support for the drop pipe and pump. Alternative: See Pitless Adapter. |
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