BMG’s Smart Farming agricultural team works closely with farmers throughout southern Africa, assisting them with the selection, installation and operation of new electromechanical systems. These projects are designed to improve efficiencies, reduce energy consumption and minimise maintenance requirements.
“Like all sectors of business, farming operations are facing the challenges of power supply limitations, the rising costs of electricity and water consumption, as well as crippling labour, capital equipment investment and maintenance expenses,” says Carlo Beukes, BMG’s agricultural manager. “BMG’s team of agricultural experts, through its Boer Slim/Smart Farming initiative, continues to offer local farmers sustainability solutions that focus on effective food production.
“As part of our Smart Farming initiative, we are assisting farmers with cost-efficient solutions to improve crop production output, to enhance efficiencies of every operation by conserving power consumption, and to minimise downtime by implementing practical maintenance programmes.”
In a recent project, the BMG team assisted a local farmer who wanted to accelerate his tobacco drying process and expand crop production, but was restricted by power supply limitations. After the installation of BMG electronic variable speed drives (VSDs), the farmer is able to run 22 tobacco drying containers at the same time, where previously, he could only run and alternate between nine drying containers. As a result, he has more than doubled his crop production output. Other positive feedback is there are no more noticeable voltage dips when the process is started up, and wear and tear on mechanical components is reduced. Production is also now less labour intensive which reduces his shift costs.
BMG helped a farmer in the Barkly West area overcome the limitations of a 200 KVA ±300 Amps power supply and lower irrigation costs per hectare. By installing VSDs on all pump sets, the available power was used more effectively, leading not only to better maize yields but also allowing the farm to expand into pecan nut cultivation.
Danfoss VLT AQUA Drive FC 202 VSDs, which offer additional energy savings when compared with traditional VSD controls, have been designed for water and wastewater applications, including irrigation. These VSDs have been fitted to all pumps in this installation and are controlled by pressure transducers that are set to match the varying demands of different irrigation requirements. The only peripheral component required was a pressure transducer. Pump controllers and valves were not necessary for flow control in this system.
A notable feature of Danfoss AQUA Drive FC 202 VSDs includes a soft start/stop facility which prevents water hammer on starting and stopping the pumps, reducing the possibility of burst pipes. Wear and tear on couplings, pumps and pipes is also reduced.
These VSDs are available from BMG in IP55 enclosures which do not require dedicated panels. This eliminates the need for additional cooling and ventilation, normally required to extract heat during operation.
To ensure absolute dependability and the highest performance, BMG was responsible for the installation and commissioning of these projects. Added to this, farmers have the assurance of support from BMG, an authorised DrivePro service partner of Danfoss.
With a projected annual power saving of 155 491 kW/hr, BMG expects the farmer to benefit from cost savings of approximately R108 000, with a payback time of less than 12 months.
The BMG team is also committed to preventing unnecessary breakdowns, which is why reliability is the main focus when designing drive systems for new and upgraded facilities.
All BMG components are precisely matched to each other and to application requirements, ensuring high productivity, smooth operation and a long service life.
The company’s broad branch network offers original spares and advanced workshop resources that ensure all repairs to agricultural components meet OEM standards.
BMG provides solutions to all key players in the agricultural sector, including local manufacturers of equipment and implements, as well as agricultural re-sellers and farmers.
For more information contact Carlo Beukes, BMG,
| Tel: | +27 11 620 1500 |
| Email: | customercare@bmgworld.net |
| www: | www.bmgworld.net |
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