This work deals with the solar photovoltaic
(SPV) array fed water- pumping system using a Luo converter as
an intermediate DC-DC converter and a permanent magnet
brushless DC (BLDC) motor to drive a centrifugal water pump.
Among the different types of DC-DC converters, an elementary
Luo converter is selected in order to extract the maximum power
available from the SPV array and for safe starting of BLDC
motor. The elementary Luo converter with reduced components
and single semiconductor switch has inherent features of
reducing the ripples in its output current and possessing a
boundless region for maximum power point tracking (MPPT).
The electronically commutated BLDC motor is used with a
voltage source inverter (VSI) operated at the fundamental frequency
switching thus avoiding the high-frequency switching losses
resulting in high efficiency of the system. The SPV array is
designed such that the power at rated DC voltage is supplied to
the BLDC motor-pump under standard test condition and
maximum switch utilization of Luo converter is achieved which
results in efficiency improvement of the converter. Performances
at various operating conditions such as starting, dynamic and
steady-state behavior is analyzed and the suitability of the proposed
the system is demonstrated using MATLAB/Simulink based
simulation results.