Schneider Electric South Africa has launched the Altivar Solar ATV320 variable speed drive (VSD), a solar-powered drive solution that is compatible with a wide range of water pumps. It helps to ensure consistent water supply and supports the decarbonisation of irrigation pumping and agri-processing machinery.
The Altivar Solar ATV320 variable speed drive harvests maximum solar energy to run the pump for the maximum duration in a day.
The Altivar Solar ATV320 is Schneider Electric’s replacement offer for the Altivar Solar 312 model, which will no longer be produced. The Altivar Solar ATV320 drive is robust, simple to commission and easy to integrate for pumping applications.
Luthando Makiwane, Industry Automation Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric South Africa says, “This product is part of our Access to Energy portfolio, so it is designed for use in remote areas or areas without access to grid electricity. However, it can also reduce energy costs if used in applications where there is electricity, because it is solar-powered. When it is not connected to solar panels, the drive can be connected to the grid,” he explains.
The Altivar Solar ATV320 VSD is suitable for use with different types of pumps, including submersible, surface-mounted and water storage tank pumps. It is designed for both residential and agricultural applications.
Agricultural applications
“The Altivar Solar variable speed drive has seen significant uptake in the agricultural sector, where farmers are looking to reduce energy costs and to adopt green technologies in their operations,” says Makiwane.
He notes that Schneider Electric’s Access to Energy portfolio is focused on supporting connections to green electricity for 100 million people by 2030 through dedicated product offerings and solutions which are aligned with the company’s purpose and mission, as a company that builds to deliver a positive effect in the long run.
The Altivar Solar ATV320 offers several advanced features compared to the previous ATV312 range. These include:
- The dual power supply mode (solar and grid) and a wide dc voltage range which enables users to connect high-wattage panels to the ATV320 solar drive
- Remote On/Off of the pump through SMS or EcoStruxure Energy Access – Livelihood platform and,
- As a dedicated solar drive it incorporates built-in maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and solar-specific functions for multiple solar applications.
“The Altivar Solar ATV320 variable speed drive harvests the maximum solar energy to run the pump for the maximum duration in a day by controlling the speed of the motor based on the power available from solar panels,” says Makiwane.
“The built-in MPPT function helps to ensure that the user gets the most power out of the solar panels and that the pump operates optimally throughout the day.”
Energy savings
Because the Altivar Solar drive can connect to the grid and solar PV source, it helps to ensure water pumping can be done at night as well, and on cloudy days. The drive is optimised for pumping applications and can achieve up to 30% energy savings.
Additionally, the Altivar Solar drive has a built-in monitoring function to help prevent the pump from running dry. If there is no water in the pump, the released heat could damage it over time, potentially shortening its service life.
The Altivar Solar ATV320 variable-speed drive is available in South Africa, East Africa and West Africa, through Schneider Electric’s distributors.
For more information visit: www.se.com
