Comparative Study of DC–DC Converters Performance for Standalone Solar Water Pumping Systems (Case Study: - Ciro Rural Community)

Abstract

In rural Ethiopia, agriculture and water are vital for food security and income, necessitating efficient irrigation systems to enhance productivity. This study addresses the challenge of implementing a standalone solar water pumping system in the remote community of Chorora, West Harerghe. Using MATLAB/Simulink, a solar water pumping system was designed, incorporating a photovoltaic (PV) array connected to a permanent magnet DC motor via various DC-DC converters: buck, buck-boost, Cuk, SEPIC, and Zeta. The objective was to identify the most efficient converter for this application under variable irradiance conditions, utilizing a Perturb and Observe Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) strategy. Key findings revealed that the Zeta converter achieved the highest efficiency at 96.2%, while the buck converter exhibited the lowest at 90%. Additionally, the system performed effectively under variable load torque conditions. These results underscore the potential of optimized solarpowered solutions to improve irrigation practices in rural Ethiopia.