Water Well Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/655200
Franklin Electric Debuts New Solar-Powered Pumping System F ranklin Electric had heard for years maintenance on solar drives for pumping systems was often difficult and time- consuming. At times the comments came from people in developing regions of the world where replacing a water system is not an easy option. The only option in these areas is often repair or no water at all. Eliminating these obstacles was a key consideration in the development of Franklin's new Fhoton™ SolarPAK, a solar- powered pumping system rolling out to groundwater contrac- tors this month. "Wholesalers, installers, and government officials in devel- oping regions were adamant about (ease of maintenance)," says Robert Stone, Franklin Electric senior vice president and president of international water systems. "In particular, in rural areas of developing regions, wages are oftentimes very low by Western standards and materials and components are difficult to get and expensive. In these markets, repair is much more economical than replacement." The SolarPAK is a high-output system, which utilizes Franklin's solar technology with the new Fhoton solar con- troller featuring a smaller modular design. The entire package of panels, pump, motor, and controller is designed to create flexibility and an easy way for contractors to provide off-grid water pumping to their customers. The heart of the system is the Fhoton inverter. The Fhoton optimizes the direct current (DC) power available from an array of photovoltaic (PV) panels and converts the PV array's DC voltage and current into three-phase AC power to drive the motor and pump. The three-phase motor reduces the line current, thus reduc- ing necessary drop cable size and cost relative to single-phase motors. The SolarPAK has several features unique for solar pumping systems. For example, it can drive a broad range of submersibles and surface motor types such as induction permanent magnet (PM) and brushless DC (BLDC). "This was identified as an important feature during our customer-centric research, especially in developing regions where water transfer and pressure boosting solutions represent a larger need than groundwater pumping," Stone says. The system's design generates little heat, provides motor protection, and the motor and pump require virtually zero maintenance if properly installed. It is designed to be expandable and upgradable without requiring one to pay for unwanted features out of the box. The motor control's algorithm and hardware is designed to get a higher solar- or photon-to-water energy conversion ratio, which means more water for the amount of available sunlight. "What makes the Fhoton SolarPAK unique is the combina- tion of multiple features in a compact and durable system," says DeLancey Davis, Franklin Electric vice president and president of North America water systems. "We think the Fhoton SolarPAK system will be the obvious choice for remote installations where grid power doesn't exist." Among the applications the SolarPAK is designed for are rural water supply for villages or homesteads, irrigation sys- tems, livestock watering, and renewable energy projects. Product selection is easy for contractors that utilize the company's solar sizing selector at http://tools.franklin- electric.com/solar/. They can input information such as loca- tion, desired gallons per day, and total dynamic head, and the selector suggests the proper turn-key system they will need that includes the controller, pump, and motor as well as pro- viding the number of solar panels needed. Installation of the product is identical to the typical pump and motor installation process, with the addition of the solar array and plugging in the Fhoton controller which is mounted at the surface. "It's designed to be easy to install and set up," Stone says. "Most new installations will require no adjustments other than setting pressure or float switch levels. However, Fhoton has several accessory options that offer additional features and provide upselling opportunities. Contractors and users can get what they really need and can add features they'd like to have without paying for it up front." "These features should help any contractor feel confident in the system whether they are new to solar or one with expe- rience in the field," Davis adds. The Fhoton SolarPAK was in development for 18 months, excluding market research work, and designed by a team that understood the markets and applications and the necessary in- verter, motor, and pump technologies and design trade-offs. It was tested at Franklin Electric's engineering lab in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and there are installations on six continents functioning well and generating positive feedback. "We used the latest technology and testing equipment to run the system through its paces," Davis says. "Additionally, we have systems installed on many continents around the globe and in the United States, where the results have been superb." And positive results will hopefully lead to many benefits for consumers. "For remote villages where children, usually girls, and women have to walk miles to fill and carry heavy containers of oftentimes dirty water back to their village, freeing them from this task and enabling them to go to school is a priceless benefit," Stone says. "For others, it allows users to get water where they need it without having to think about it after the system is installed. All of us would like to be able to forget about our pumps once we install them. Fhoton lets you forget about the power bill, too." –By Thad Plumley Franklin Electric's August Lester and Rich Evans with the new Fhoton™ SolarPAK at the 2015 NGWA Groundwater Expo and Annual Meeting. waterwelljournal.com 12 April 2016 WWJ