Solar Street Lights for Jharikass – Azad Kashmir.

Sharif International has been chosen to install a pair each of solar street lights for Azad Kashmir Bridges. The first installation was done in Jharikass. As usual world class highly energy efficient and high illumination LVD lamps have been utilised to power an unbelievable illumination from a minuscule 23W self ballasted LVD lamp at 6500 Kelvin color temperature.

The results and quality of work are here for your perusal, be it the pole quality, the integration components or the German solar modules, Sharif International has a total commitment to quality and value for money solutions for all.

Solar Home Systems Providing Power to CFLs and Mobile Phone Chargers throughout Swat Valley.

As part of solar electrification of 600+ homes in the Swat Valley, Sharif International has accomplished the first phase of 315 SHSs.

The most deserving and far off communities were chosen to benefit from this scheme. Now the beneficiaries have 3 CFLs each as well as a mobile charger per home. Almost all of the communities were off grid and used to burn kerosene oil and wood for their lighting needs. Now they are saving at least Rs. 1,500 each per month because of newly installed solar home systems. On top of this there are many health benefits for the dwellers due to absence of smoke and soot in their huts.

Some of the main Union Councils include UC Kalagei, UC Dewlay, UC Shamozee, UC Kanju, UC Barikot, UC Bazdara, & UC Sarsenay Kabal. Each Union Council consists of many villages, most of which are in the beneficiaries list.

Solar Home Systems and Solar Street Lights for Mirpur Sakhro Sindh.

Most rural communities in Sindh live far off from the electricity grid. At times the geographical challenges limit grid connection.

In addition to other on going projects in the area, Sharif International has provided 53 Solar Home Systems and 53 Solar Street Lights to the Mirpur Sakhro area communities. The area is near the historical city of Thatta.

What difference this intervention has brought for the target communities can be witnessed underneath.

A Demonstration Solar LVD Street Light Graces DHA Islamabad.

Due to the never ending episodes of power failure in Pakistan solar street lights offer a promising new avenue. While proposing solar solutions it is our effort to economise the target load as much as might reasonably be possible. Our hi-tech LVD lights do exactly the same. With illumination that rivals equivalent 150W HPS our 40W LVD lamps turn on the magic at DHA Islamabad.

Have a look at the amazing illumination being provided by a meagre 40W L|VD Lamp. For technical buffs the foot print of the LVD solar street light should be of tremendous interest!

Playing Football in Swat under Solar Flood Lights.

Yes, you read it right. Swat folks in Barikot area now have access to a well lit football pitch that has been powered by solar PV.

We have done it again. In these difficult to reach areas, raising the flag of renewable energy is definitely a challenge. But then, Sharif International is used to accepting challenges that others find hard to achieve.

Here’s a pictorial for you!

OEM PV Module Frames, LT Panels, Switchgear, Wind Masts & DBs Fabrication Facilities at Sharif International.

Being a major player in the renewable energy arena, Sharif International has in-depth knowledge and expertise of practical and on site challenges faced by system integrators.

It is no wonder that most larger companies, mobile operators and industries bank on us for their hi-tech LT Panels, DBs, Wind Masts and PV Frames.

We have complete in-house production and fabrication workshop at our Islamabad setup. The last OEM order completed was of a multinational operator for their clustered PV array frames.

Energy Audit at a Major Mobile Operator Identifies 67% Energy Conservation Potential!

More than 67% Energy Conservation Potential has been identified through a detailed (investment grade) Energy Audit of one of the largest and oldest cellular operators in Pakistan. Main 14 corporate offices were the subject of the audit, housing admin, operations, CSC and HR.

Many areas like HVAC, Illumination, IT, Escalators etc. were probed and saving areas were pointed along with recommendations and ROI analysis.

The project is in the implementation stage and it is expected that more 35% Energy Conservation projects would be completed before December 2010. The Annual Financial saving will be to the tune of PKR 37 million.

72% Energy Conservation at Shell Petrol Pump Tarnol.

In a recently competed pilot project by Sharif International, one Shell Diesel Filling Station at Tarnol Rawalpindi, more than 72% conservation has been achieved on top of better illumination. The feat has been achieved largely by replacing the inefficient and high energy consuming HPS lamps with extremely the Energy Efficient & Environment friendly and Long Lasting LVD Induction Lamps.

Previously the overall load profile of the Diesel Filling Station was more than 19.5 kW while after conservation it has been reduced to less than 5.7 kW! Before the utility bills were so costly that even necessary lights like canopy side lights and canopy down lights were switched off. Now despite more than 72% energy conservation the illumination levels are many times better than before.

Next time you pass the area have a look for yourself!

Deemas Super Store at Abbottabad adopts LVD and saves a massive 60% off its illumination costs.

Deemas Super Store at Abbottabad Pakistan offers choice stuff to a well off neighbourhood. The offerings in addition to usual grocery stuff include a charming Cafe’ and an exotic BBQ all housed in a large building. The complex also offers a large car park at the back.

The owners here were not happy with the lighting installed because of poor illumination and soaring electricity bills. After many other failed attempts Sharif International was contacted to rectify the situation. After installation of appropriate LVDs in the building, facade and parking lot, the illumination load has been reduced by a staggering 60%.

Just see what it means to conserve energy by way of LVDs and get even brighter illumination.

Solar Energy Systems Installed by Sharif International Covered in a Dawn News Documentary

Many hundreds of renewable energy installations have been done by Sharif International in the Sindh & Baluchistan area of Pakistan on top of other country wide installations.

The difference that these systems have made to the target communities and how they are serving the cause of eco conservation is highlighted by this Dawn News documentary that is being given underneath courtesy Dawn News Channel.

3kW Solar PV Renewable Energy Solution for an entire office in the Middle of a Desert.

Imagine having an office in the middle of a desert with absolutely no power whatsoever and the nearest dwelling is 25 km away, you can be sure that you are in Sanghar Sindh! The folks here were looking for an experienced and reliable alternate energy company that offered one stop solution. Sharif International was the natural choice again.

With a robust 3080Wp of solar PV arrays and MorningStar USA controller the office now can turn a city office green with envy. The main activities taking place in this wilderness are those that matter conservation and co-ordination with the desert communities.

Enjoy the virtual tour right here.

Wind – Solar Hybrid Solution for an entire office on the banks of Keenjhar Lake.

Keenjhar Lake near Thatta in Sindh Pakistan is a conservation heaven for lovers of wildlife and vegetation. It is also home to International NGOs which are continuously striving to uplift the area and ensure conservation. One such large international NGO requested Sharif International to install a wind/solar hybrid solution for its entire office at the edge of the huge lake.

It was a tough job installing the turbine on uneven rocks right next to the fresh water Keenjhar Lake. The result is in front of you with a 1kW Hummer Wind Turbine and 1.35kW of Solar PV modules serving the entire office. World renowned Hummer hybrid Charge Controller is at the heart of the system. With this impressive design the renewable energy office system keeps the battery banks charged and in tip top condition to get going for a tough day ahead, any day and every day of the year.

Solar PV Home Systems for Remote Desert Communities.

Sanghar (Sindh) and beyond is a harsh and hostile area from the point of view of dwelling. Although the people living in this area are very hardy and ingenious, still day to day life here is nothing short of a continuous challenge. Add to this the unavailability of grid electricity and we have what is know as Baqar Village. The different adjoining villages are right in the middle of a large desert.

Sharif International was again the choice of multinational NGOs to provide small solar home systems to these communities. As a part of this project many dozens of localities have been provided solar renewable energy. The village folk have appreciated this positive step and are thrilled to witness their dark nights finally lit up by none other than mother nature itself!

Hummer Wind Turbine Turns on the Magic in Remote Bhoori Village.

Deep in the Creeks of Keti Bandar area is the fishing village of Bhoori. Far away from the grid and with no chance of any electricity in the near future, Hummer Wind Turbine has turned on the magic for the village folk. This 500 Watts turbine has been paired with two 125 Watts CentroSolar German solar modules to create the ideal solution.

Hummer Wind Turbines boast a rated wind speed of only 7-8 m/s and if the wind speed increases to 12 m/s then its power automatically doubles to 1kW! Due to this very feature and a robust design it only takes 3 hours for this Hummer Turbine to fully charge the battery bank that lights up 29 huts for 6 hours at least. The fishing community is over joyed by this new revolution in their lives that provides illumination and electricity to charge their mobiles etc.

Garrison Recreational Park, Bahawalpur has a Taste of Renewable Energy!

Lately Bahawalpur Garrison Recreational Park’s illumination has been entirely converted to renewable energy. World famous Sun Earth USA solar PV modules are the main power generators here, coupled with Morning Star USA Charge Controllers & EverExceed UK Sine Wave Inverters. The result is a flawless and meticulously designed system that keeps the battery banks in tip top condition round the clock.

Highly Efficient & Energy Saving LVD Lamps Make a Real Difference to the Textile Sector

Lately the Textile Sector has been crippled with numerous challenges like high overheads and ever increasing energy costs. In this bleak scenario hi-tech LVD industrial illumination solutions offered by Sharif International are making all the difference to textile mills. One such large textile unit opting for the switch from fluorescent tube lights to LVD lamps is currently enjoying 60%+ savings as compared to previous bills on top of better illumination. The design of LVD lamps is eye catching to say the least.

With savings of this magnitude there is an ample potential for all textile units to look in to this extremely exciting new technology that offers a five years warranty for your peace of mind.

Utilisation of Abundant Wind and Solar Resources of Baluchistan

Of late Sharif International has been spanning the expanses of Baluchistan from Dasht near the Iran border to Ormara. Hybrid systems are very successful in Baluchistan areas bordering the seashore due to their dual potential. The inclusion of an appropriate wind turbine helps to drive down the price of the whole system dramatically. Many different installations go to our credit which have been designed, procured, installed and commissioned by Sharif International.

The Sun Finally Dawns on Fishing Communities in Sindh

Sharif International is the partner of choice with major international donors and NGOs working for the uplift of impoverished rural communities. One such area is the huge wetland adjacent to Keti Bandar and Shahbandar. These folks have never witnessed lighting in their huts other than portables torches. The advent of latest solar home kits from Sharif International in their huts is a dawn of a bright new era. Two of the pics highlight fabrication of solar module frames and wind turbine masts at our Karachi office. Enjoy these captivating moments from the Wetlands!

Benefitting from the Wind Potential at Keenjhar Lake (Kalri Jheel)

Extensive solar PV, wind and hybrid installations have been done by Sharif International in the Keenjhar and adjoining areas. Good wind resource allows cost effective hybrid systems that are suitable for homes, mosques and community places.

Multan Cantonment Park Goes Green!

One of the best and most effective energy conservation is the solar powered application of street/garden lights. One such installation by Sharif International is at Multan Cantonment Park. Here, numerous garden and street lights have been installed by Sharif International. Have a glimpse of these great Eco friendly lights right here.

Hybrid Systems in the Heart of Himalayas

A great experience full of enjoyable moments for us was the installation of hybrid systems amidst lofty snow capped mountains in the remote North of Pakistan. One of the sites was Baroghil – Lashkar Gaz. See the joy of people on seeing the house light up in the middle of nowhere.

Cholistan Villages Brightening Up through Solar Home Kits

Seeing the smiling faces of desert folk in the Cholistan after their huts were lightened up with solar power was the ultimate achievement of Sharif International. As part of this campaign that lasted two months, 140 remote homes in different parts of Cholistan were electrified by Sharif International on behalf of the Cholistan Development Authority. The home kit included 5-6 CFLs, DC Fan and mobile charger attachments. Quality CentroSolar PV modules from Germany are the driving force behind these systems.

Energy Saving LVD Lights for Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad

As a part of its ongoing struggle against global warming and GHG emissions Sharif International group had the privilege of installing highly efficient energy saving solar lights at the Islamabad head office of Allama Iqbal Open University.

The said lights of 23W each were installed in a multitude of street light poles as well as main intersections of the campus. These lights will save this prestigious institution tremendous amounts of finance in the shape of reduced utility bills and help to conserve the nature by reducing GHGs.

PowerGen Expo, Lahore. 10th of December 2009

Sharif International Participated in this very important government sponsored expo on power generation and power saving. The expo was very successful with Sharif International displaying cutting edge VFD technoloies from Invertek Drives UK and other allied energy conservation technologies like LVD Luminaries’. Most of the visitors were very eager to learn about energy conservation opportunities offered by Sharif International.

Many dignitaries from the government ministries as well as PEPCO, Zarai Taraqiati Bank and high officials from the industrial sectors thronged our stall.

Invertek Drives UK, Mr. Light HID Saver & New Solar Solutions Launching Ceremony

As partners of ENERCON in energy conservation and alternate energy solutions Sharif International was invited to showcase its’ portfolio of solutions and products in a colourful ceremony held at the ENERCON head office building in Islamabad on 31st Jan 2009. The Honourable Federal Minister for Environmental Affairs was the chief guest accompanied by the Secretaries and MD ENERCON and other relevant staff. On this occasion numerous energy conservation techniques and devices were demonstrated and explained to the Honourable Minister by the CEO Mr. Tariq Khattak and the Dir Operations Mr. Hasnat Ahmed.

The CEO also briefed the delegation about the newly introduced Invertek Drives from UK, as well as solar power applications and devices. The Dir Operations explained the working principle of VFDs and the energy huge saving potential for the industrial sector that they harness. Another star of the show was Mr. Light HID Lighting Saver. The Honourable Minister took a keen interest in Mr. Light and was delighted to know that it could save more than 38% electricity when installed on HPS street lamps. The MD ENERCON Mr. Faridullah Khan gave a presentation on this subject to the delegation. He emphasised that more than 3 MW of electricity can be saved just by implementation of Mr. Light in Islamabad Street Lights alone. To witness the event some pictures are here for conservation enthusiasts.

Mr. Light HID Lighting Saver Installed at Karachi Port Trust

The Karachi Port Trust is a premier organisation of Pakistan, handling the staple sea shipping activity. The port area has dozens of HPS Lighting Masts housing many hundreds of lights in all. Mr. Light HID Lighting Saver is providing a valuable 20% plus electricity conservation to KPT. The following few pictures brief the installation activity at KPT.

DHA Creek Karachi – Solar Street Light Installation

Sharif International was contacted to install a demonstration solar street light in the DHA Karachi Creek Area to assess its suitability and aesthetics. An LVD based solar street light (40 Watts x 2) was erected on the 11th of March 2009. All high ranking officials from DHA Karachi were present to witness the occasion.

All those present noticed the crisp white light and better illumination of hi-tech 80 Watts LVD lighting compared to the 250 Watts HPS lamps installed right across the road. In reality the newly introduced LVD lighting technology boasts of almost 40% energy conservation compared to HPS for similar or better illumination and a much better CRI.

Here’s a pictorial..

Textile Asia Expo, Karachi

Earlier this year Sharif International Participated in a hugely successful Textile Asia Industrial Expo at Karachi Expo Centre. Cutting edge VFD technologies from Invertek Drives UK were on display and attracted thousands of curios visitors. Most of the industrial visitors were very eager to learn about energy conservation opportunities offered by Invertek Drives UK.

As a result of these many successful energy savings demonstrations were performed on site by Sharif International throughout the industrial areas of Karachi.

Among many other dignitaries visiting our display were the Honourable Federal Minister for Textiles. Here’s an ode to the occasion.

Sharif International Group is the exclusive distributor of Invertek Drives (UK) for Pakistan. We have extensive installations in the industrial sector throughout Pakistan ranging from textiles (spinning, weaving, dyeing/printing & stitching etc) to chemicals & engineering. As a leading energy conservation company in Pakistan we have continually demonstrated electrical energy savings to the tune of 25% – 70% on industrial machinery from China, New Zealand, Australia, USA & UK etc.

The benefits of installing Invertek VFD on industrial motors include immediate savings in electricity consumption, reduction of starting torque current to zero amperes, significant reduction in the size of generator, and considerable reduction in wear & tear of motors.

To start saving electricity and to immediately reduce your CNG electricity bill contact us here.

Muhammad Farooq Sattar Industries, Korangi, Karachi.

1. As a sequel to our participation in Textile Asia Fair in Expo Centre Karachi numerous energy conservation demonstrations were performed in the textile sector industries of Karachi. Almost all the sub sectors of textile e.g. spinning, weaving, dyeing and printing showed outstanding electrical energy conservation figures of 30-60% Many of the people were surprised by the impressive electrical energy savings.
2. At the spinning unit of Muhammad Farooq Sattar Industries in Korangi a demonstration was provided on a 7.5 kW induction motor that had been re-furbished many times before.
3. On this motor the starting Current I was reduced from 37 Amps to 0.2 Amps, whereas the running Amps were brought down from 7 to 2.8 Amps. A saving ofmore than 60% About 55 similar motors are installed in just one unit here, imagine the saving possibilities here technically and financially. These savings when translated into very cost effective and competent finished products directly mean larger exports.
4. There was no adverse impact on the spinning and quality of finished materials.
5. An Invertek Optidrive VTC 7.5 kW VFD  was utilized to achieve this amazing feat.

Lucky Industries, SITE, Karachi.

1. Lucky Industries are a prominent name in high quality textile processing and exporting. A high output jet dyeing unit was presented to us for energy conservation opportunities. The said unit utilizes 12 3 phase induction motors of 11 kW at 400 VAC.
2. One such motor was fitted with an Invertek Optidrive VTC VFD. The high starting torque required, generated 156 Amps starting current and thereupon the running Amps consumed were 18.3.
3. On this motor the starting Current was reduced from 156 Amps to 0.2 Amps, whereas the running Amps were brought down from 18.3 to 12 Amps. A saving of more than 34% on this continuous load application speaks volumes of the energy efficient Invertek Drives.
4. There was no adverse impact on the performance of the jet dyeing unit and quality of finished materials.
5. Invertek Optidrive VTC VFD was utilized to achieve this feat.

Sharif International was contacted to install a demonstration solar street light in the DHA Karachi Creek Area to assess its suitability and aesthetics. An LVD based solar street light (40 Watts x 2) was erected on the 11th of March 2009. All high ranking officials from DHA Karachi were present to witness the occasion.

All those present noticed the crisp white light and better illumination of hi-tech 80 Watts LVD lighting compared to the 250 Watts HPS lamps installed right across the road. In reality the newly introduced LVD lighting technology boasts of almost 40% energy conservation compared to HPS for similar or better illumination and a much better CRI.

Here’s a pictorial..

Sharif International Group is the exclusive distributor of Invertek Drives (UK) for Pakistan. We have extensive installations in the CNG sector throughout Pakistan ranging from switchgear panels to VFDs and automation. As a leading energy conservation company in Pakistan we have continually demonstrated electrical energy savings to the tune of 31% on CNG compressors from China, New Zealand, Australia, USA & UK etc.

The benefits of installing Invertek VFD on CNG compressor motors include immediate savings in electricity consumption, reduction of starting current to zero amperes, significant reduction in the size of generator, and considerable reduction in wear & tear of motors.

To start saving electricity and to immediately reduce your CNG electricity bill contact us here.

Tazagramme CNG Station, Malakand Road, Mardan.

Automation including installation of 132kW Invertek VFD was performed at this CNG Station. Before the installation of our equipment the starting current of 132 kW compressor motor was 850 Amps and the average running Amperage was 260 Amps. After installation the starting current was reduced from 850 Amps to zero, whereas the running Amps were reduced from 260 Amps to 190 Amps.

This translates in to an electricity saving of 26.92% With this kind of savings the cost of the automation will be recovered in under eight months. If you are the owner of a CNG station you can enjoy the same savings and benefit from state of the art British (Made in The United Kingdom) Technology at very economical rates. The VFD pays for itself in just a few months.

Saya Zar CNG, Qalandar Abad, Mansehra Road, Abbottabad.

Automation including installation of 132kW Invertek VFD was performed at this CNG Station. Before the installation of our equipment the starting current of 110 kW compressor motor was 560 Amps and the average running Amperage was 180 Amps. After installation the starting current was reduced from 560 Amps to 0 whereas the running Amps were reduced from 180 Amps to 123 Amps.

This translates in to an electricity saving of 31.66% With this kind of savings the cost of the automation will be recovered in under eight months. If you are the owner of a CNG station you can enjoy the same savings and benefit from state of the art British (Made in The United Kingdom) Technology at very economical rates. The VFD pays for itself in just a few months.

Haj CNG, Bannu Road, Kohat.

Sharif International provided automation services to this CNG station including installation of 160kW Invertek VFD. Before the installation of our equipment the starting current of 132 kW compressor motor was 750 Amps and the average running Amperage was 260 Amps. After installation the starting current was reduced from 850 Amps to 0 whereas the running Amps were reduced from 260 Amps to 185 Amps.

This translates in to an electricity saving of 28.84% With this kind of savings the cost of the automation will be recovered in under nine months. If you are the owner of a CNG station you can enjoy the same savings and benefit from state of the art British (Made in The United Kingdom) Technology at very economical rates. The VFD pays for itself in just a few months.

Invertek Drives (UK) are spearheading industrial electricity conservation world over. The following few out of many industrial sectors help to demonstrate our point. At Sharif International we are leading industrial innovation by demonstrating the energy saving aspects of Invertek Drives across the vast expanses of Pakistan. Should you require a demonstration please contact us here.

Optidrive keeps it cool in Italy!

The water cooling systems in one of the most prestigious steel foundry’s in Europe now rely on Optidrive variable speed drives to keep production running.

48 Optidrives are used to control water pumps in the cooling systems on six continuous casting lines in the Beltrame Group foundry in Italy. Optidrive Plus 3GV and Optidrive Plus VTC , with its innovative energy saving features, were specified in a range of sizes up to 22kW.

Innovative energy saving features

Optidrive Plus 3GV uses 3GV technology to deliver 200% torque down to 0.0Hz, allowing this unique open loop product to be used without any feedback device in many traditional closed loop applications. Designed specifically for fan and pump applications the Optidrive VTC maximises energy saving with its sleep mode feature and an automatic energy optimiser function, which reduces the motor voltage to match the load.

The Optidrive’s were supplied to Beltrame by Invertek Drives Sales partner in Italy, Siei Peterlongo electric S.p.A.

Enrico Rebuffi at Siei Peterlongo confirms:

“For this application Optidrive units need the ability to work in harsh environments up to 50°C, whilst maintaining totally reliable performance for continuous operation, 24 hour per day. Easy to wire, offering very fast and simple commissioning, and meeting EMC requirements without the need for external filters made sure that Optidrive was the first choice for this application.”

The Beltrame Group is one of Europe’s leading producers of commercial steel rolled sections and special bars for shipbuilding and earth-moving machines. Founded at the end of the nineteenth century by the Beltrame family, the company has a proud heritage. This includes a highly prestigious subsidiary, Laminés Marchand Européens’s, which has been working in the steel and iron market since the middle of the nineteenth century.

With production capacity of 3 million tonnes through nine plants strategically located near to the main product catchment areas throughout Europe, the Beltrame Group boasts comprehensive European coverage.

Invertek has become a reference in the international metallurgic industry

Since it was launched, Invertek Drives Spain has focused its activity on markets where the key benefits of Optidrive are utilised to the full. One such market to recognise the powerful tools and incredible performance offered by the Optidrive range is the metallurgic sector, where the purple colour is increasingly decorating the industrial environment.

The latest major system using Invertek Drives Spain was developed, built and installed by a company specialising in metallurgic treatments. Composed of 25 Optidrive Plus 3GV units complete with specialist 3GV-W application macro software, the system controls different parts of a sophisticated metallurgic process.

This 3GV-W software allows the use of up to three acceleration and three deceleration ramps, with each being selected automatically as a function of speed. The operator presets the speeds at which each of the ramps activates whilst additional flexibility is provided by allowing selection of independent acceleration and deceleration ramps via digital inputs. These specialist functions compliment the standard Optidrive Plus 3GV feature of providing 100% motor torque down to 0.0Hz.

“This is a very important tool when you have to set up hundreds of drives and have a parameters list for the future” said the technical manager of the company installing the system. In case of service requirements to any drive the technical support team are able to send replacement drives very quickly, pre-loaded with the full list of parameter settings. This is a very important requirement once the system becomes old and personnel forget the parameters that were originally set up.

Furthermore, the pluggable signal connector allows quick and easy change of one drive for another, up to five times less than the time required for previous drives in this application.

Time is money and the metallurgic engineering companies are appreciating such benefits, knowing they have superb performance and reliability with a drive that puts them firmly in control of their processes.

Fan Energy saving leads to growing demand

Fan and Pumping applications have been an important part of the variable speed drives industry for many years, where the benefits of energy saving, improved enhanced control and performance are well known. However, with the ever increasing energy costs, and the worldwide focus on the environment, the market for inverters in these types of applications continues to grow.

So how are the energy savings achieved? Centrifugal fans and pumps have a particular characteristic where the torque required to turn them is proportional to the square of the speed. The power required is then proportional to the cube of the speed. From this, it can be seen that a reduction in the fan speed gives a much larger reduction in the power consumption, and a 20% reduction in speed can save up to 50% of the energy consumption!

Many fan and pump installations operate at a constant flow rate, even though the actual demand for them varies widely. The required flow is then adjusted using mechanical valves or dampers, which reduce the overall system efficiency. Invertek’s Optidrive E2, Optidrive Plus and Optidrive VTC all feature built in PI or PID control, designed so that the drive can automatically maintain a constant pressure or flow set point, based on a signal provided from a feedback transducer. For example, where a pump is used to pump fluid at a constant pressure into a system where the demand may vary, a transducer can be installed to measure the actual pressure, and the Optidrive can be pre-programmed with the desired setpoint. The Optidrive will then adjust the pump speed to maintain the pressure automatically, providing a simple, reliable means to achieve consistent energy savings, particularly when compared to a pump simply running at full speed continuously, controlled by throttle or recirculation valves. Automated systems, which remove the need for an operator to manually adjust the speed almost always provide the optimum energy savings.

Invertek’s Optidrive VTC has been specifically for centrifugal fan and pump applications, and as such has features dedicated to this industry which can further assist the energy saving potential. The PID controller has an additional ‘Sleep / Wake’ function, which allows the drive to automatically shut down if the preset feedback level has been maintained over a programmable time period, and restart when demand requires. Again, this automatic system, once programmed, removes the need for operator intervention, meaning that the maximum savings are achieved with minimal effort, and also simplifies the installation when retrofitting to existing applications.

In practice, the real world results achieved depend largely on how well the overall system is designed and controlled, it’s typical operating period and power level. It’s important to consider all these factors when considering energy savings, to ensure that the expected end results are realistic, and not based predictions created with unrealistic data or figures. Pumping applications in particular can be more complex than it may first appear, particularly where the static head of the system is high when compared to the maximum head available, which will limit the amount the pump speed can be reduced before the head can no longer be maintained.

It’s also important to remember that not all fans and pumps are centrifugal type, hence some ‘Blowers’ such as Roots type, or pumps such as PCP (Progressive Cavity Pump) or displacement pumps may require a constant torque drive (Optidrive E2, Plus 3GV). Energy savings and system improvements can still be made with constant torque applications, however the overall potential for energy saving is reduced. Installing an inverter to a fan or pump, and operating constantly at maximum speed is unlikely to be a cost effective, energy saving strategy, and so the first step should always be to look at the existing installation to determine where and how energy can be saved, and then determine how best to reliably and repeatedly achieve those savings. Invertek Drives has developed a simple to use energy saving calculator, designed to give a fast indication of the energy that could be saved by the installation of an Optidrive on to a fan or pump control system. Greater savings will always be achieved where larger kW motors are used, and with system which operate for longer periods of time, e.g. 15kW or more motors operating for 8 hours per day or more. Installing Optidrives onto these applications will generally provide the shortest payback period – the time taken to recoup the cost of installing the drive based on the energy saved.

When installing drives onto large, high inertia fans, it’s often necessary to activate the ‘Spin Start’ feature of the Optidrive. With Spin Start enabled, every time the Optidrive starts, it will automatically perform a prestart test to determine whether the motor is already rotating, and if so, find the speed of rotation and direction. This becomes vital on any fans where the fan can actually be blown around by drafts or air movement whilst the drive is disabled, whereby attempting to start the already rotating motor effectively applies a short circuit directly to the drive output. Should the motor be turning, the drive will automatically begin control by matching the output frequency to the motor speed, and then controlling the motor to the correct operating direction and speed setpoint.

Optidrive delivers a crushing performance!

Using Optidrive Plus 3GV to control a single rotary crusher has delivered some substantial benefits for a quarry in Ireland.

The Coolmore quarry in Cork is operated by John A Wood in Cork. The quarry uses a Sheepbridge single rotary crusher which was originally fitted with a 160 kW slip ring motor and starter combination. The replacement equipment was required to provide extremely reliable control together with significant energy savings at start up.

The electricians at John A Woods had initially calculated that a 200 kW AC motor would be required to cope with the load. After detailed tests and analysis however, The Reliance Bearing and Gear Company, working with Invertek Drives in Ireland, were able to recommend a 160kW squirrel cage motor controlled by an Optidrive Plus 3GV.

The first challenge was reducing energy consumed on start up. Traditionally slip ring motors are commonly used on high inertia loads because of their superior starting torque, efficiency and their ability to start high inertia loads.

Starting this type of high inertia load direct-on-line with a standard squirrel cage motor typically takes up to 550% of rated current for 60 seconds. Starting the same machine with a slip ring motor requires only 200% increase in current for around 20 seconds. In this instance the Optidrive Plus 3GV, together with a squirrel cage motor, was able to start the system in only 40 seconds whilst taking only 27% of motor rated current. This provides an extremely energy efficient solution.

As the stone feeds into the crusher a peak load is created, which could have led to the drive tripping on over current. In addition, the crushing drum can undergo very short periods of light load inbetween crushing one large stone and starting on the next one. This could cause the drum to speed up and the drive to trip on over voltage. Reliance Bearing and Gear were able to overcome these challenges by fitting a brake resistor and adjusting the perfomamce of the Optidrive Plus 3GV vector speed controller.

The next challenge was to guarantee that if the machine was not running at the rated operating speed for any reason it would not fill with material and cause a blockage. The Optidrive Plus 3GV. was programmed to provide control signals to the feeder line. The result was that if the drive tripped or was not at full speed the feeder would then also stop, the momentum of the rotor would crush the material in the crusher and the machine would be cleared.

Finally, the spin start feature on the drive was enabled to provide rapid and smooth re-start in the event of losing the incoming power supply. The spin start feature is able to detect the speed of the motor and then match the drive to that speed before accelerating to its final operating frequency.

Stephen Tighe of Invertek Drives in Ireland confirms: “The Optidrive Plus 3GV. has delivered excellent energy savings in this application whilst maintaining extremely high levels of performance and reliability. We would certainly expect this success to lead to increased demand for Optidrive Plus 3GV.

Optidrive VTC chosen for Rural Water Scheme in Ireland

Over 70 Optidrive VTC inverters have recently been installed to control water pumping operations within the Rural Water Scheme underway in the South West of Ireland.

The Optidrive VTC drive was specified by EPS Limited of County Cork, the largest design, supply and installation pumping contractors in Ireland with over 70 Engineers based at their head office in Mallow. Following their prior successes with Optidrive VTC in a range of similar applications, EPS Limited had no hesitation in specifying the drive for Rural Water Scheme sites in Limerick and Claire, with many more sites now set to follow suit.

The Optidrive VTC drives used in this application range from 1.5 to 160kW, three phase 400 Volt and from 1.5 to 22kW, 220 Volt single phase. With the Optidrive VTC boasting many innovative features that provide market leading performance in HVAC and pumping applications, Field Engineers on this project were given dedicated training locally and at the Invertek Drives training facility in Welshpool.

In this water pumping application the built in PID function of the Optidrive VTC is used to control pressure. The innovative Optidrive VTC ‘Sleep’ then allows two pressure levels to be set, one at which the drive stops the water pump operating and another at which the drive commences operation again. This ensures that the drive is not constantly switching the water pump on and off around the target pressure, avoiding what is commonly known as a “hunting effect” and providing enhanced energy savings.

An expanded local/remote control function (often known as hand/off/auto) on the Optidrive VTC also provides significant benefits in pumping applications, allowing instant and reliable change of the method of drive control. Changing from local (hand) control using the keypad to remote (auto) control, where a sensor is used for drive feedback for example, is done at the touch of a button. The drive then automatically switches to the appropriate speed reference input for the chosen method of control.

The Optidrive VTC is already renowned for its ease of use plus simple installation and commissioning, making it the lowest cost solution for virtually all variable torque applications.

Its advanced energy saving features include an automatic energy optimiser function, which reduces the motor voltage to during partial load conditions, with the ability to automatically revert to normal operating voltage should the load increase. In addition, Optidrive VTC’s optical interface allows communication with the unique Optiwand CE Plus Pocket PC based commissioning and storage software for fast and accurate product configuration.

Other features include a Dynamic Fast ramp function providing faster stopping with large inertia loads, particularly in applications where the inertia is variable and there is no braking resistor. The drive will decelerate the motor to a stop as fast as possible without tripping, ensuring no interruptions to the process whilst consistently using the minimum possible time to bring the load to a stop.

Invertek Drives gives South African power station a boost!

The 3GV technology delivers 100% torque at 0.0Hz allowing this unique open loop product to be used without any feedback device in traditional closed loop applications. The latest success story from South Africa concerns the complete retrofit of 2 x 100/25 tonnes turbine cranes for Grootvlei power station, where the main hoist has a maximum lifting capacity of 100 tonnes and the auxiliary hoist has a maximum lifting capacity of 25 tonnes. Morris Cranes undertook the project with Invertek Drives SA providing the variable speed drive technology.

The project required an upgrade of every crane in the power station so that all the motion elements, including main hoist, auxiliary hoist, cross travel and long travel, would be controlled through variable speed drives. Introducing variable speed drives allows the cranes to be operated at different speeds, even when single speed motors are fitted, and minimises maintenance costs by eliminating shock loading. The drives can also be used to prevent load swinging during start up and stopping.

With a gantry length of approximately 400 metres, a span (width) of 30 metres and a lifting height of 40 metres, these cranes provide an ideal application for variable speed drives.

Used to maintain the steam turbines within the power station, the running speeds of these cranes was previously very low. With an Optidrive Plus 3GV fitted the crane operators were given a choice of 3 different speeds and they had greater confidence in being able to move the extremely valuable cargos with a greater degree of control

By far the most challenging part of the project however was using the Optidrive Plus 3GV to maintain total control throughout a 105 ton load test over a lifting distance of 40 Metres. The most impressive part being able to demonstrate the 100% Torque from Zero speed without an encoder.

Mark de Beer, the Managing Director of Invertek Drives SA., confirms:

Being able to offer 100% torque from zero without the use of an encoder is most certainly a major benefit for hoisting applications and we have shown that the results that can be achieved with this drive are truly amazing.

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