Solar pumping technology for off-grid farm
June 2023
Motion Control & Drives
Farm Camaratuba in Piaui, Brazil is located in a semi-arid region, posing a challenge in producing livestock fodder. As a result, a large quantity of fodder needs to be transported to the farm, while water also needs to be pumped to different areas of it for irrigation and livestock.
A 150 KVA diesel generator was used to pump water from a 50 metre deep tubular well into an irrigation system feeding 17 hectares of land. Additionally, there was no control over the amount of water being pumped from the well when the system was active, resulting in wasted water.
The farm’s owners worked with WM Engenharia on the project. They designed and installed the complete system, which consisted of 15 photovoltaic panels on a six-string system using an Invertek Drives Optidrive P2 Solar VFD, which controlled the pump. A second drive will be used for a future pumping system, using a PV system.
Marcus Silva, head of sales at Invertek Drives Latin America, said the farm faced several challenges during dry periods: “It struggled to produce sufficient fodder for its livestock without relying heavily on irrigation or transporting it in from a supplier. Additionally, the farm was not linked to the main electric grid and had to rely on a diesel generator for the pumping, thereby incurring significant expenses in transporting fodder and running the generator. However, with the introduction of a photovoltaic-powered pumping system, the farm was able to eliminate the need for the generator, and irrigate larger areas of land when it needed to and with the necessary quantity of water.”
Consequently, they were able to produce their own fodder reserves with a higher nutritional value throughout the year, thereby mitigating the costs of transportation and diesel consumption, as well as the emissions created by the generator.
He added: “Another advantage was the ability to control the amount of water being pumped. Previously, it was a case of switching the pump on, and a constant flow was fed into the irrigation system. The VFDs allow the flow and quantity to be altered depending on the amount required, preventing wasted water.”
The diesel generator was replaced with a 47,7 kW photovoltaic system to power the existing 35HP submersible pump installed in the well. Two Optidrive P2 solar VFDs (380V, 50HP, IP20 enclosure rated) were installed, one to control the system and another to act as a reserve for the installation of a future pump.
The P2 Solar Pump VFD is available with an extended DC operative voltage range of 345-800 V DC and 185-410 V DC. It is designed specifically for applications involving watering, irrigation, agriculture, swimming pools, water supplies, water treatment and others where solar energy can be harnessed.
Quite often these are in hard to reach or off-grid locations. However, many are also in commercial or residential areas where the advantages of solar/PV technology can be used for environmental or cost reasons.
The P2 Solar is available in IP20, IP55 and IP66/NEMA 4X enclosures, making them suitable for all environments and conditions. The range includes 0,75 to 250 kW. It includes extended DC operative voltage range, 345 to 800 V DC HV, 185 to 410 V DC LV, which increases the system operational time per day, and reduces unnecessary stoppages caused by the low array voltages during dawn and dusk.
Further reading:
Solving common automation challenges with Festo’s servo drive and servo motor solutions
Festo South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
Automation projects face challenges that include limited installation space, the need for precise and repeatable linear motion, rising cycle-speed demands, and seamless integration with existing control architectures. Festo’s servo portfolio directly addresses these issues with compact, modular drive and motor solutions designed for specific applications.
Read more...
Inside the Giant Magellan Telescope with mechanical engineering at astronomical scale
Motion Control & Drives
Construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, set to become the world’s largest Gregorian optical infrared telescope, is well underway. While its scientific mission is to transform astronomy, its performance depends heavily on advanced mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic engineering.
Read more...
Filtration as a reliability driver in motion control systems
Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
This article highlights the importance of filtration in motion control systems, how contamination affects performance, and what fleet managers, operators and maintenance teams in southern Africa can do to reduce downtime, avoidable wear and costly repairs, aided by Baldwin Filters.
Read more...
Supporting construction of next-gen floating offshore wind turbines
Motion Control & Drives
While windy locations naturally make ideal spots for offshore wind farms, they bring challenges when it comes to assembling wind turbines, particularly in ports. Mammoet was approached by Euroports to support with the marshalling and assembly of the components that make up the three turbines at Port-la-Nouvelle in France.
Read more...
Rollers excel where profits balance on a knife edge
igus
Motion Control & Drives
Polymer component specialist manufacturer, igus has developed a range of lubrication-free long-life knife edge rollers designed to improve the transfer of products between conveyor belts in high-speed production environments.
Read more...
Bringing physical AI to the factory floor by deploying humanoids in industrial operations
Siemens South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
Siemens and Humanoid have marked a landmark milestone in the journey to bring physical AI from vision to industrial reality. Humanoid’s humanoid robothas been successfully tested in operations at Siemens’ electronics factory in Germany, performing autonomous logistics tasks.
Read more...
Next-generation oil-free motor systems with active magnetic bearings
WEG Africa
Motion Control & Drives
WEG and SpinDrive are collaborating to integrate SpinDrive’s AMBs and built-in IoT condition monitoring into WEG’s market-leading electric motor offering, creating an oil-free, maintenance-free drive solution.
Read more...
Rising demand for advanced coolant technology
Motion Control & Drives
As modern engines become smaller, more powerful and increasingly complex, coolant technology has undergone a fundamental transformation.
Read more...
Addressing cost, supply and disease pressures in Africa’s feed industry
Motion Control & Drives
Feed producers across Africa are operating in an increasingly complex and volatile environment. The pressures are forcing producers to rethink how they operate, balancing cost control, production efficiency and the need for greater flexibility in an unpredictable market.
Read more...
Rapid headframe replacement for Canada’s biggest potash mine
Motion Control & Drives
Mammoet has supported Ledcor with the construction of BHP’s new Jansen potash mine.
Read more...
printer friendly version