pool pump and sunnyboy/sw4048 hybrid [RE-wrenches]

[David Blittersdorf]

On 26 Nov 2002 at 10:40, matthew tritt wrote:
> David,
>
> Very interesting. Who makes the inverter and controller? Are they a packaged
> deal along with the pump?
>
The pump motor is a 208/230 3 phase motor that I purchased from a pool supply
company and it directly replaces the single phase 240 VAC motor. Three phase motors
are typically more efficient that single phase motors by about 5-10%.

The motor is controlled by a variable speed drive controller(inverter) sized to the motor.
I bought a Hitachi # L100 drive from:    www.automationdirect.com

This Hitachi controller allows you to run the pump motor at different speeds.

I far as I know no one packages the pieces and I ended up figuring out the programing
of the controller with some trial and error tests. You have to put in a start
voltage/frequency and end voltage/frequency to match the solar cell voltage output to
the motor speed you want. Needed to start the motor at a low speed 1/3 normal in the
morning, run at 80% speed in peak sun and then shut off again at night. You can also
make the combo more efficient by setting the 3 phase voltage to the pump motor to 200
VAC instead of 230 or 240 VAC. The solar cell (1 watt thin film with 9 volts at full sun)
output was loaded with a 250 ohm resistor and a big capacitor for filtering before
connecting to the analog voltage (0-10 VDC) controller input.

BTW: This all runs on grid power 230 VAC and my house is net metered so everthing I
use is AC and no batteries. It is more efficient than using batteries by 20-40%.

I also have a whole house voltage regulator (www.microplanetltd.com) on test that
regulates my AC power to exactly 115/230 VAC. The utility supplies me with 125/250
VAC and my grid connected inverters used to trip offline when the grid hit 254 volts in
the middle of the night. Problem solved and I am saving about 14% of my energy by
running all my loads at the lower voltage. Another advantages is that our new Whirlpool
Duet washer no longer faults and shutsdown due to overvoltage.

Hope this helps. Someone interested in packaging this could make some money. I am
just too busy in the wind energy business to do it.

Regards,

David Blittersdorf

> Matt
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Blittersdorf" <davidb at nrgsystems.com>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:24 AM
> Subject: Re: pool pump and sunnyboy/sw4048 hybrid [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> Another approach I have used on my pool. I agree with Paul to reduce head
> losses with
> large pipe sizes and reduced flow rates.
>
> I have a large pool (18' x 44') and have changed out my single phase 1.5 hp pump
> to a variable speed drive inverter and 3 phase motor. The inverter is contolled
> by a solar cell that is directly connected to the analog voltage control input
> of the inverter drive. The pump speed varies with the sun and automatically
> starts and stops with sunrise and sunset. It's great as I also have the solar
> hot water panels piped directly into the pool pump. I set the top speed to 50hz
> to decrease flow losses and decrease energy use.
>
> This last summer in Vermont I used 1300 kwh for the season (May - Oct.),
> about 260
> kwh per month. The old pump running 8 hrs. per day on a timer used 480 kwh
> per
> month. I decided to stay with an AC system as my house has 5 kw of PV and a 10kw
> wind turbine that is net metered.
>
> David Blittersdorf
>
> On 26 Nov 2002 at 10:15, Paul Benson, Dankoff Solar wrote:
>
> > As all you wrenches know, point of use investment in efficiency is often
> the
> > most appropriate way to reduce long term costs; the compact florescent
> bulb is
> > the most accessible example.  From this perspective, it makes sense to
> invest
> > initially in the most efficient pump to replace the existing AC pump, as
> well as
> > review the pool equipment to make sure it allows for the most efficient
> pump.
> > For example, reducing friction loss (head loss) through the filtration,
> > maximizing pipe sizes, etc. will reduce the power requirement.
> >
> >   Turning over the volume of the pool in two days instead of every day
> also
> > greatly reduces power consumption (and head loss).  When these measures
> have
> > been taken, it can make sense to replace the AC pump entirely with a PV
> driven
> > pump.  Dankoff Solar Products now manufactures a PV direct pool pump which
> > integrates the basket strainer in a conventional plastic pump head, which
> is
> > coupled to a custom made high efficiency DC motor, which can run without a
> > controller PV direct.  These systems can use as little as 230 watts.  The
> AC
> > pump can be left in parallel with the solar pump to cover periods of heavy
> pool
> > use, or the DC pump can be configured with a power converter to run the
> pump off
> > AC power when needed.  For California users, the system can be rebated by
> the
> > CEC.
> >
> > These pool pump systems can also be used in large pools to take over a
> > portion of the pumping load, such as pumping through a solar collector
> loop for
> > pool heating, leaving the AC pump to handle filtration for fewer hours per
> day.
> >
> > Paul Benson
> > Dankoff Solar Products
> >
> > on 11/25/02 6:33 PM, keith at kcronin at lava.net wrote:
> >
> > > Hello Wrenches
> > >
> > > Two questions:
> > >
> > > 1. I am looking to create an energy star home.  I have complied with
> > > every energy consuming appliance we have from the refrigerator, washer,
> > > dryer, solar hot water.  The last item is the pool pump.  It is a 1 hp
> > > filter/circulation pump and it came with the house when we bought it last
> > > month.  I have spoken to a few pool dudes and they seem to all push the 8
> > > hour a day running concept.  That's 8 kW a day I am not enthusiastic about.
> > > I recently whittled the time down to 7 hours to see if the algae liked this
> > > new additional hour for growth and haven't seen any appreciable difference.
> > > I get the feeling that if you're a pool guy, you have a route and want to
> > > get in and out as quickly as possible: i.e.: run the pump longer. Anyway,
> > > does anyone have any guidelines for hours of operation in relationship to
> > > pump size, pool size, and distance to the pool from the pump etc. and can
> > > anyone recommend perhaps a super efficient ¾ or ½ hp pump?
> > >
> > > 2. Since our move, I took my 4048, SP75s, C-40, DC175, Concorde AGM's
> > > with me.  I will have a stand alone system and a newly installed (this
> > > weekend) 12- bp160's on a
> > > SB2500.  I was considering using the outback combiner box and rewire the
> > > panels with three (3) homeruns into a 48 volt configuration.  I was going to
> > > purchase a 120/240 transformer and have an AB switch.  This way, I can
> > > proverbially have the best of both worlds.  One system is grid tied for max
> > > efficiency, the other for keeping the refrigeration cold.  In the event of
> > > an extended power outage, divert the sunny boy string to the input of the
> > > 4048 and have a slick backup system and keep those batteries topped off.  I
> > > understand everyone must be thinking why bother, but my 4048 is only 3.5
> > > years old.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions or comments would sincerely be appreciated.
> > >
> > > Keith Cronin
> > > Island Energy Solutions
> > > 318 A Kuulei Road
> > > Kailua, Hawaii 96734
> > > 808-262-3268 Tel
> > > 808-263-0338 Fax
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
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>
> David Blittersdorf
> NRG Systems, Inc.
> 110 Commerce Street
> Hinesburg, VT 05461 USA
> Tel: 802-482-2255
> Fax: 802-482-2272
> email: davidb at nrgsystems.com
> Web:http://www.nrgsystems.com
>
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David Blittersdorf
NRG Systems, Inc.
110 Commerce Street
Hinesburg, VT 05461 USA
Tel: 802-482-2255
Fax: 802-482-2272
email: davidb at nrgsystems.com
Web:http://www.nrgsystems.com

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