Real-Time Performance Monitoring of a Centrifugal Solar Pump Using LabVIEW

This paper presents the performance monitoring and testing of a centrifugal solar pump using a photovoltaic water pumping test bench (PVWPTB) at the Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER) in Algiers, Algeria. A LabVIEW-based interface facilitated real-time data acquisition and remote control of pneumatic valves, demonstrating ease of use. Key parameters, including irradiance, pump power, total manometric head (TMH), and water flow rate, were measured. The PS 150C pump achieved a flow rate of 65 liters per minute (L/min) at a TMH of 2 meters with a power input of 300W, and 10 L/min at a TMH of 35 meters. However, the pump reached 80% of the manufacturer’s maximum flow rate (65 L/min vs. 82 L/min) and 175% of the maximum TMH (35m vs. 20m). The deviations were attributed to pump degradation, calibration inaccuracies, and pipeline losses. Overall, the results validate the reliability of the monitoring system, despite the limitations encountered.