Motion Control & Drives


Energy-saving irrigation methods

March 2019 Motion Control & Drives

Anyone within the agricultural sector will know that operating an irrigation system can be expensive, with one of the primary factors being the cost of energy. The good news is that there are ways to reduce costs and achieve savings.

Significant efficiency can be realised by leveraging available technology to provide an appropriate electric motor and variable speed drive (VSD) combination that reduce costs while providing reliable performance. WEG’s IE3 Top Premium Efficiency motors and VSDs are designed for that purpose.

As a supplier with a solid track record in irrigation applications, the Zest WEG Group can provide examples to show how energy costs can be reduced. In a pivot pump application, which operates for 4000 hours in a single year – two planting cycles – it was possible to do a comparison between a standard efficiency IE1 motor (91% Eff) and a premium efficiency WEG IE3 motor.

WEG IE3 Top Premium Efficiency motors not only offer maximum ingress protection with a higher winding insulation system to increase motor life expectancy, but also offer efficiencies of up to 96,6% and benefits are apparent when compared against IE1 standard efficiency motors. Using a 22 kW 2 Pole at 75% of full load IE1 motor with an efficiency of 91%, measured against a WEG IE3 motor with 93% efficiency, estimated savings of R2100 per year at the current tariff will be achieved.

Much higher savings can also be realised by using a WEG VSD in combination with a WEG motor. An IE1 electric motor, again operating for 4000 hours per year at 91% efficiency, will consume about R93 800 worth of energy, using old valve-based methods to throttle and reduce the output of water volume and/or pressure. The same could be achieved using a VSD to reduce the motor speed while simultaneously further reducing the energy used when compared to running the motor direct online from a power source.

If a 10% reduction in operational speed using the VSD is assumed, further savings of 22% to 27% could be achieved.



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Taking reliability to the trenches
SKF South Africa Motion Control & Drives
SKF’s maintenance-free Y Bearing Unit has significantly extended equipment uptime for key customer Gibela, a leading level 5CE CIBD-rated civils company with more than ten years of experience in the field.

Read more...
Adjustable chocks support extremely large telescope
SKF South Africa Motion Control & Drives
Adjustable chocks from SKF will play an important role in the world’s largest visible/near-infrared telescope, the ELT, which is currently under construction in Chile.

Read more...
Safe handling in all sectors
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG Motion Control & Drives
BMG is committed to ensuring optimum safety standards in all sectors, and encourages and assists customers to adhere to stringent safety legislation during bulk handling. Tsubaki backstops and cam clutches, which have been developed and manufactured in Japan for high efficiency and optimum safety in high- or low-speed applications, meet the requirements of current legislation.

Read more...
Motion control solutions for better machining results
Motion Control & Drives
NSK Europe is shining the spotlight on its latest solutions for machine tools. Innovative NSK bearings, ball screws, and linear guides can deliver significant gains for both machine users and builders.

Read more...
Drive technology for tunnel construction
Motion Control & Drives
Compact, robust, and reliable - these are the advantages of RUD’s Tecdos drive technology, which is a gamechanger in tunnel construction.

Read more...
Modernising for productivity
SEW-Eurodrive Motion Control & Drives
Making its debut appearance at NAMPO Cape in Bredasdorp in September this year, geared motor specialist SEW-EURODRIVE is all set to excite the farming community with even more solutions to drive productivity and efficiency.

Read more...
Cost-effective machine health monitoring
SKF South Africa Motion Control & Drives
The easy to use SKF QuickCollect Bluetooth-enabled, handheld sensor monitors the health of rotating machinery via mobile iOS and Android apps, identifies developing issues, and mitigates potential failures by enabling customers to initiate predictive maintenance.

Read more...
WEG to debut at Electra Mining Africa
WEG Africa News
WEG has maintained a formidable presence on the African continent for over four decades, consistently demonstrating its industry-leading capabilities at Electra Mining Africa under the Zest WEG brand. This year, a rebranded WEG is poised to make a powerful debut with a renewed focus on innovation and sustainability.

Read more...
Beer brewers avoid grease contamination
igus Motion Control & Drives
A study by RWTH Aachen University and igus recently quantified the financial and environmental benefits of using lubrication-free polymer bearings over traditional metal bearings. The study revealed that users can save millions of rands annually in lubricant costs, significantly reducing their environmental impact.

Read more...
Supporting the low-carbon steel movement
Motion Control & Drives
With a legacy of pioneering safer, more productive, and sustainable equipment and services, Konecranes is committed to advancing a decarbonised and circular world for customers and society.

Read more...