[RE-wrenches] Oddball pumping question

[Chris Mason]

I have a couple of suggestions. A pump motor of that size is likely Class H
and requires a 7x starting current or Locked Rotor Amperage. During
starting the power factor can drop to .2 or lower and the inrush can run to
20 times the rated run current. Even diesel generators have a very
difficult time starting singular loads of this size. I would not even
attempt such a task.
That said, the solution is to look at the work to be done. If the intent is
to pump, let's say, 10000 gallons in one hour per day, suggest that a solar
powered DC pump could accomplish the same in the course of a day. DC pumps
are viable speed and don't have inrush currents.


On Thu, Mar 27, 2014 at 10:07 AM, Allan Sindelar <
allan at positiveenergysolar.com> 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 on the PRC; about two months later the ruling was rescinded due to a huge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 at positiveenergysolar.com* <Allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
> Founder, *Positive Energy, Inc.*
>
> A Certified B CorporationTM
> 3209 Richards Lane
> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
> *505 424-1112 <505%20424-1112> office 780-2738 cell*
> *www.positiveenergysolar.com* <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>
>
>
>
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-- 
Chris Mason
President, Comet Systems Ltd
www.cometenergysystems.com
Cell: 264.235.5670
Skype: netconcepts
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