First look at what his actual pumping needs are, and come up with a more
efficient way to provide the water.
I just got back tonight from changing out hydronic circulators for a
customer with new Hi Efficiency brushless ECM models. I was able to cut
the watt draw by 65%.
Also, its very possible that multiple smaller pumps could be used in his
situation as well. I'm sure changing pumps and using a smaller array
will be much lower cost, and has higher chance of meeting his
challenge. Just cowboying in a system to run that monster is a bad
idea, just like on smaller scale projects.
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 3/27/2014 8:07 AM, Allan Sindelar wrote:
Wrenches,
Here's one of the oddest questions I have come across in years:
PRC Commisioner Lyons issued a challenge to NM solar companies
today. He stated that he cannot get his electric coop to bring
three phase into his property to run his irrigation (a 150 hp
motor). He said that whenever he mentions this to a solar outfit -
running a 150 hp motor on pv - they look back at him like a deer
in the headlights. Can you meet his challenge?
This application is way above my pay grade, and normally I would not
give this question much pause, as few ranchers would be seriously
willing to put up the money for the design and research time to work
up and price a solution, especially given that as far as I know, none
even exists. No rural water pumping PV designer that I know works with
motor loads of such scale. Indeed, it makes my head spin to think of it.
I checked an older (2003) Franklin motor application guide and found
specs for a 150 HP 3 phase motor: 128 kilowatts at 380-575 VAC at 60 Hz.
The only reason I am writing is this: The rancher is one of our
state's five Public Regulatory Commissioners. These are the folks who
regulate our three private utilities and 20 +/- rural co-ops, and he
is perhaps the most conservative one of the five. Last fall he
initiated an ill-conceived regulation to cut in half our state's RPS
and pushed it through to passage on the PRC; about two months later
the ruling was rescinded due to a huge public outcry. So if it were
even possible to address his particular request, the potential
consequences could have far-reaching effects politically.
Has anyone attempted or accomplished anything even close to this? Is
there existing equipment that could handle such an application? Could
such an application be justified economically? Or can anyone offer a
reasoned answer why it's not possible?
Thank you,
Allan
--
*Allan Sindelar*
_Allan@positiveenergysolar.com_ <mailto:al...@positiveenergysolar.com>
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder, *Positive Energy, Inc.*
A Certified B Corporation^TM
3209 Richards Lane
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
*505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell*
_www.positiveenergysolar.com_ <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>
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