ABB Motion, the motor company of Swiss-Swedish electrical equipment manufacturer ABB, has released a new solar power drive for water pumps.
The ACQ80 Variable Speed Drive (VSD) system features built-in MPPT logic to maximize energy input from the connected panels.
“A key feature is the built-in MPPT logic combined with a wide input voltage range from 225 to 800 VDC,” ABB Motion said in a statement. “This allows the drive to drive the pump motor even if the power output of the solar panels decreases during periods of little sunlight. This operational window is much wider than conventional drives, allowing the maximum amount of water to be pumped over a range of operating conditions.”
The solution is designed to operate primarily off-grid, but can also accept AC input directly from the local grid or a generator.
“It offers built-in pump functions such as flow calculation, dry running protection, pump cleaning and multiple smart operating modes to optimize the water pumping process and minimize human intervention, as well as a fieldbus connection for integrating the VSD into the control systems,” the company said.
The device can operate at the rated current at an altitude of up to 1,000 meters, then reduce by 1% for every 100 meters up to an altitude of 4,000 meters. It can operate in relative humidity from 5% to 95% and in ambient conditions up to 60 C. A Bluetooth controller can be added as an upgrade to the system, allowing operation in more difficult to reach areas.
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