[RE-wrenches] Oddball pumping question

Thu Mar 27 10:34:24 PDT 2014

I wonder if it is one of those huge sprayers that they are using in the field that roll across the field spraying the crops?

They use a massive amount of water on each of their sweeps and I would have to say that with my limited water pumping experience I would run screaming from the room!

Over the last 20+ years I've tried to apply Solar to do a lot of things, not all successfully. 
 that application wouldn't be one of them that I would even consider

Bob Ellison

> On Mar 27, 2014, at 1:08 PM, "William Dorsett" <wmdorsett at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> What other technology is asked to do universal service? You wouldn’t drive a dump truck on a family vacation, nor a compact to haul dirt. You can shape the question for any technology to perform unreasonable service. It doesn’t invalidate the cost-effectiveness of PV for substantial portion of the utility’s service.
>  
> Bill Dorsett
>  
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Allan Sindelar
> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 11:02 AM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Oddball pumping question
>  
> Jerry,
> Your request is entirely reasonable, and my answer is no, I can't. The request in my original message came from an online contact request from someone who was at yesterday's PRC hearing and heard Commissioner Lyons' comment. I have no further information, as to get it I would most likely have to contact the Commissioner myself. I wrote to the List in order to get a "bird's-eye view" of whether such an application was even possible. I wouldn't want to call up the Commissioner for more info with no idea of whether it's even possible. I'd be just another deer in those headlights.
> 
> Given all that, given that he's from the plains on northeastern NM, I would expect it to be a well.
> Allan
> 
>  
> On 3/27/2014 9:36 AM, Jerry Shafer wrote:
> can you give us more details, are you proposing pumping from a pond, a well, storage tank what.
> Jerry 
>  
> 
> On Thu, Mar 27, 2014 at 7:19 AM, Chris Mason <cometenergysystems at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
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> Founder, Positive Energy, Inc.
> A Certified B CorporationTM
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> 505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell
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> Chris Mason
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