Agriculture Variable Frequency Drive VFD Irrigation

We’ve been putting Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs in agriculture and irrigation projects for a long time. It isn’t a new idea or technology by any means, but using VFDs for irrigation is gaining wider and wider acceptance.

Using variable frequency drives (VFD s) for controlling irrigation pumps does several things. It saves energy, it conserves water, and it eliminates water hammer. In many cases, using a VFD to control irrigation gets government agencies off the farmers back, by replacing diesel engines.

In fact, in many states, farmers can receive rebates for using variable frequency drives (VFD s ) in agriculture and irrigation.

The local power companies like farmers to use VFDs on their irrigation motors because it reduces the power line strain associated with starting irrigation pumps across the line. In fact, in some cases it’s the ONLY way to start a large horsepower motor. The power line simply lacks the capacity for an across the line start. In some cases, a softstarter can be used. (See Electric Motor Softstarters)

And to top it all off, the price of variable frequency drives suitable for irrigation has plummeted. For instance, you can buy a fully featured, top brand 20 HP VFD for about $1000.00. (for example see HERE )

Another great feature of VFDs (variable frequency drives) used for irrigation is they can run a 3 phase motor, from a single phase input. You do have to oversize the VFD a bit to compensate for the ripple heating on the bus caps, but they work well. But other than that, there are usually no additional considerations. (Call us, we can help with this)

In the simplest irrigation pump system using variable frequency drives (VFD s) the farmer simply uses a potentiometerto change the pump speed, and hence water flow.

In other systems, where the variable frequency drive ( VFD ) controlled pump is feeding a header to which several irrigation outlets may be connected, the VFD can be configured to maintain pressure in the primary line. This is very easy to do with modern drives, almost all of which have built in set point controllers. It usually just involves installing a pressure transducer near the pump outlet.

Farmers find other uses for VFDs as well. They are used to control grain dryers, conveyors, various pumps, and other processes.

Call us for all of your agricultural and irrigation Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) needs. We have one of the largest stocks in the nation, and our service is second to none. Contact us by any of the means on the right of this page, or call 800-848-2504800-848-2504 .

No One, Anywhere, is better at irrigation drives than we are!