Solar Pumping

This textbook is a comprehensive review of many different areas in solar-pumped lasers design and characterization. It enables readers to develop their skills in general solid-state laser design and solar collector design and provides numerous solved exercises at the end of each chapter to further this development. This book begins by introducing the brief history of solar-pumped laser and its potential applications. It explains the basic theories of imaging and non-imaging primary, secondary, and tertiary solar concentrators. It discusses solar-pumped solid-state laser theory and solar-to-laser power conversion efficiencies. There are chapters dedicated to ZEMAX and LASCAD numerical simulation tools, to help develop readers’ skills in innovative solid-state laser design. This book is one of the first books to relate concentrated solar energy technologies to solid-state laser technologies and is therefore of interest to students, academics, engineers, and laser and optical system designers.

Solar power for pumping groundwater has a vast potential for improving the sustainability of water supply schemes. However a lack of knowledge is holding back their adoption. This book bridges this gap to equip engineers and technicians with the knowledge for design, implementation and operation of sustainable solar powered water schemes.

This book reviews current work and assesses the state of the art in potential applications of concentrated solar energy in nonelectric areas, such as water and waste treatment, photochemical processes, and materials processing. It identifies and recommends research needed for further development of promising applications.

The agri-food chain consumes about one third of the world’s energy production with about 12% of it for crop production and nearly 80% for processing, distribution, retail, preparation and cooking. The agri-food chain also accounts for 80-90% of total global freshwater use where 70% alone is for irrigation. Additionally, on a global scale, freshwater production consumes nearly 15% of the entire energy production. It can therefore be argued that making agriculture and the agri-food supply chain independent from fossil fuel use has a huge potential to contribute to global food security and climate protection not only for the next decades but also for the coming century. Provision of secure, accessible and environmentally sustainable supplies of water, energy and food must thus be a priority. One of the major objectives of the world’s scientists, farmers, decisions makers and industrialists is to overcome the present dependence on fossil fuels in the agro-food sector. This dependency increases the volatility of food prices and affects economic access to sustenance. This book provides a critical review of recent developments in solar, wind and geothermal energy applications in agriculture and the agro-food sector such as processing, distribution, retail, preparation and cooking.

Pumping water is a universal need and a major energy challenge, especially where electrical service is absent, expensive or unreliable. Water demands are greatest when the sun shines most intensely. Could there be a better power source for pumping, than the sunshine itself? Over a million solar pumps are already in use for irrigation, livestock, pond and stream management, water treatment, homes and communities, emergency relief, government and recreational facilities, and more. They are rapidly replacing hand pumps, engines, windmills, and even public grid power. To succeed, designers, suppliers, funders and owners need to understand the unique aspects of this technology. This comprehensive and unique volume fills a major gap in the literature on this rapidly-growing industry. Three pioneering authors share over 80 years of combined solar pumping experience in private, public and educational sectors. They describe the theory and practice of solar pumping, including small, medium and large scale approaches, for the developing and the developed world. The book covers solar power, pump and control technologies, system sizing and design, storage and back-up, installation, operation and maintenance, and remote connectivity. It presents accessibility solutions for small farms and villages, as well as advice for involving communities, business, NGOs and financial institutions, based on the diverse experience of the authors. Examples with full colour illustrations and photos are included throughout. Real world case studies are presented from around the world, including Africa, Asia and the US, plus a ten-year follow-up study of more than 200 systems in Mexico. Overall, the volume will serve as a standard reference for years to come.

This text should be valuable for anyone interested in the use of solar pumps. It is a practical handbook which aims to provide a simple introduction to the equipment, maintenance and operation of solar pumping systems.