Solar Pump Flow and Head Calculation Guide for Irrigation Projects

Correct pump selection starts with two numbers: flow and head. For a solar water pump project, these values determine pump model, motor power, cable size, controller range, and daily water output.

Flow: how much water the project needs

Flow is usually specified in cubic meters per hour or liters per minute. Buyers should calculate daily water demand first, then divide it by effective sunshine hours. A farm that needs 30 m3 per day with 5 useful solar hours needs about 6 m3/h before system losses and seasonal safety margin.

For livestock watering, greenhouse irrigation, and remote wells, avoid selecting only by pump wattage. A 600W pump and a 1000W pump can perform very differently depending on impeller design, well depth, pipe length, and controller matching.

Head: the total pressure the pump must overcome

Total dynamic head includes vertical lift, drawdown, pipe friction, fittings, and delivery pressure. Deep wells need special attention because water level can drop during pumping. For this reason, RUTANPUMP often asks buyers to provide static water level, dynamic water level, pipe diameter, and horizontal distance before confirming a model.

If the project uses an MPPT solar pump controller, confirm controller voltage range and protection functions together with pump head data. The controller cannot correct a pump that is fundamentally undersized for the well.

Procurement checklist before quotation

Prepare these details: water source type, well diameter, static and dynamic water level, required daily volume, vertical lift, horizontal pipe distance, pipe diameter, solar panel plan, and local power backup requirement. With these details, a supplier can recommend DC or AC/DC pump options more accurately.

Contact RUTANPUMP for solar pump selection, OEM supply, and irrigation system quotation. Email: Sales@Rutanpump.com. WhatsApp / WeChat: +86 18267835331. Tel: +86 (0576) 86322398. Contact page: https://www.rutanpump.com/contact