SOLAR POWERED SPRAYER FOR AGRICULTURAL USE

A Solar Powered Sprayeris a pump running on electricitygenerated by photovoltaic panels or thethermal energy available from collectedsunlight as opposed to grid electricity ordiesel run water pumps. The operation ofsolar powered pumps is more economicalmainly due to the lower operation andmaintenance costs and has lessenvironmental impact than pumps poweredby an internal combustion engine (ICE).Solar pumps are useful where gridelectricity is unavailable and alternativesources (in particular wind) do not providesufficient energy. The solar panels make upmost (up to 80%) of the systems cost. Thesize of the PV-system is directly dependenton the size of the pump, the amount ofwater that is required (m³/d) and the solarirradiance available. The solar sprayer hasMany advantages. Besides reducing the costof spraying, there is a saving on fuel/petrol.Also, the transportation cost for buying petrolis saved. The solar sprayer maintenance issimple. There is less vibration as compared tothe petrol sprayer. The farmer can do thespraying operation by himself without engaginglabour, thus increasing spraying efficiency.