[RE-wrenches] Oddball pumping question

[William Korthof]

Inverter drives make sense for motors almost any size, especially in this context. I'm certainly no expert but:
1) In the 5-20 hp range, I've seen plenty of single-->3 phase drive options. These essentially eliminate the startup power surge problem, especially in well applications. If 1 phase utility power were available, and you could get a larger 1 to 3 ph drive, that could be a solution (you'd still need 400A at 480Vac 1ph to deliver 150 HP) 
2) solar direct pumping could be the most elegant. There are many examples in the 1-5 HP range, and no technical reason I can think of against going larger. 150 hp? How about a bunch of smaller pumps? 
3) higher voltage... 240--600 vdc solar/battery/inverter. Some lines of motor drives accept DC on the front end... 
4) traction equipment (electric buses and trains) typically invert 600-750 vdc input and power 100-300 HP 3p ac motors 

/wk

William Korthof
714.875.3576
Sustainable Solutions
#956904

On 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
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-- 
Chris Mason
President, Comet Systems Ltd
www.cometenergysystems.com
Cell: 264.235.5670
Skype: netconcepts
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