Irrigation system
Chibubi
Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭
I'm setting up a farm and wants to buy
1. How much voltage will I be able to produce at DC and AC respectively
2. Will the pump be able to run and for how to ensure a long life span on the pump.
3. Do I reguir a water pump booster on a 3hp water pump.
4. Is it possible to submerge the submersible water pump in a dam and directly connect to 2 sprinkling guns without passing through the tank?
4x250w Monocrystalline Solar Panels, 4x24vx200ah gel solar batteries
1x3hpx220v/AC and 300-400v/DC water pump to maximize water pressure through G2 sprinkling gun of 50-70m range of sprinkling.
1. How much voltage will I be able to produce at DC and AC respectively
2. Will the pump be able to run and for how to ensure a long life span on the pump.
3. Do I reguir a water pump booster on a 3hp water pump.
4. Is it possible to submerge the submersible water pump in a dam and directly connect to 2 sprinkling guns without passing through the tank?
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Comments
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Welcome to the forum Chibubi,
Your system, as proposed (3 hp @ relatively high pressure and volume) will consume a lot of energy. Solar power is not cheap--Upwards of $1-$2 per kWH or more (just a SWAG at this point). Powering the system for 10 minutes a day vs 5+ hours of irrigation per day is a big question too.
I guess you are in Zambia--So I don't know the cost or availability of power in your area, or the available solar + battery equipment you would like to use....
Just as a start--A generic 3 HP motor:- 3 HP * 746 Watts per HP = 2,238 Watts (ideal 3 hp motor)
- 2,238 Watts * 1/0.50 PF (losses and inductive losses) = 4,476 VA inverter
- 2,238 Watt * 1/0.65 generic AC motor eff = 3,443 Watts motor running power (guess)
- 5,000 Watt inverter * 100 AH / 1,000 Watt @ 48 volt battery bank = 500 AH @ 48 volt battery bank minimum (does not account for how many hours per day pumping--Just the minimum suggested battery bank capacity)
- 3,443 Watt motor * 1 hour per day = 3,443 WH per day
- 3,443 WH per day * 0.52 AC Solar off grid system efficency * 1/48 volt battery bank * 2 days of storage * 1/0.50 max planned discharge for longer battery life = 552 AH @ 48 volt lead acid battery bank
- 552 AH * 58 volts charging * 1/0.77 solar panel+controller deratings * 0.10 rate of charge = 7,176 Watt array minimum (10% rate of charge)
- The second is based how many Watt*Hours per day you use, and what are the hours of sun per day for you location. Guessing Lusaka Zambia, fixed array, 15 degree tilt facing north.:
https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php
Don't know the system/irrigation is year round, or just part of year... Pick 4.97 Hours of sun per day (December) for now. The solar array suggested for 1 hour per day pumping would be - 3,443 WH per day pumping * 1/0.52 off grid system eff = 6,621 Watt array December "break even"
- 6,621 Watt array (ideal) * 1/0.65 solar fudge factor = 10,186 Watt array (minimize genset usage in December)
And there are integrated pumps+VFDs that can run directly from solar panels (no batteries needed, just pump when the sun is up and the sky is relatively clear.
For pumping, VFDs + appropriate 3 phase motor can be a cost effective solution. Note that VFDs can be "hard" on AC 3 phase motors, and you need to pick a motor that is rated to operate with a VFD.
The above is just an example of how the math works out based on your questions an my guesses on what such an irrigation system may look like with a battery bank.
One high quality well pump vendor that makes "solar friendly pumps" is Grondfos.
https://www.grundfos.com/
The usual answer, for off grid solar power systems--Design the most efficient and "solar friendly" system you can (low energy usage, low power surges, minimum pressure/runtime for pumps, try to avoid battery banks for irrigation systems, etc.)--It is almost always cheaper in the to conserve energy than to generate it.
-BillNear San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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