Implementation of a high efficiency and low cost converter for a photovoltaic water pumping system

This paper proposes a new converter for photovoltaic water pumping and treatment systems without the use of storage elements. The converter is designed to drive a three-phase induction motor directly from PV solar energy. The use of this motor has the objective of presenting a better solution to the standard DC motor water pumping system. The development is oriented to achieve a commercially viable solution and a market friendly product. The converter topology is based on a Resonant Two Inductor Boost converter and a Three-phase Voltage Source inverter achieving 90% efficiency at a rated power of 210W. The total cost of the proposed converter is below US$ 91.00 and the system is expected to have high lifetime, due to the inexistence of electrolytic capacitors.