VEICHI has introduced an innovative solution that allows farmers to irrigate their crops without using the central power grid. This helps solve problems caused by climate change, which are increasingly complicating crop cultivation.
Typically, connecting to the power grid for a pump in a remote field is very expensive, sometimes reaching five to seven-digit figures, not to mention the constantly rising cost of electricity itself. Although cheaper alternatives exist, they have their drawbacks.
A Typical, but Problematic, Irrigation Scheme
One such scheme involves drilling a well in the field and installing solar panels nearby. The energy from the panels is sent to a hybrid inverter, from where it goes to a frequency converter, and then to the pump. This scheme has several significant disadvantages:
- Reduced efficiency due to the presence of two inverters.
- High project cost.
- Redundant energy conversions: the DC voltage from the inverter is converted to AC, then in the frequency converter it's converted back to DC, and finally to AC for the pump.
- Two inverters can interfere with each other, leading to errors with no apparent cause. This requires developing a mechanism for error resetting.
The Revolutionary Solution from VEICHI: SI23
VEICHI has developed a revolutionary solution based on the SI23 series solar frequency converter. This system simplifies the process, as power from solar panels is connected directly to the solar frequency converter (SFC). Additionally, power from the centralized grid can be (but is not required to be) connected to the SFC.
The SFC automatically balances power depending on the available voltage. For example, it can run on solar power alone, and if there isn't enough sun, the frequency to the motor will be reduced. If grid power is connected and the maximum frequency is needed, the system will automatically draw the deficit from the grid. By default, the system is configured to maximize solar energy usage.
Advantages of the VEICHI SI23 System
- High efficiency and lower conversion losses.
- Ability to operate on solar power alone.
- Wide DC bus voltage range (250V - 780VDC).
- Can work with any motor, not just pumps.
- Output frequency up to 320 Hz.
- Power range from 0.7 to 710 kW.
- Includes an automatic transfer switch (ATS) function that automatically switches power sources without additional switching components.
Additional Features of the SI23
- "Book-style" design, allowing for tight installation and space-saving.
- Support for various communication protocols and expansion cards:
- Encoder and resolver cards.
- I/O expansion cards.
- Communication cards: EtherCat, Ethernet TCP/IP, ProfiBus, ProfiNet, CanOpen, and others.
- Includes RS-485 ModBus RTU as standard.
- Efficient heat dissipation, with boards separated from the air duct.
- Three-layer varnish coating on the boards for protection.
In addition, the Chastotnik team has developed a universal product for remote monitoring and control of the converters, which significantly saves time by eliminating the need to drive to the field to turn irrigation on or off.