Grundfos RSI Solar Pumping System
Customer: Kurrajong Pastoral
Location: Springsure, QLD
Case Study ID: CS-09
Date: November 2017
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Overview
Crystal Plains is a 3,018ha (7,458 acres) Springsure buffelgrass property located 52km south of Emerald and 22km north of Springsure. The property comprises 10 dams, three bores, 14 grazing paddocks, plus several holding paddocks and water squares.
Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment’s Rockhampton branch was engaged by local beef cattle graziers Kurrajong Pastoral (located near Springsure, QLD) to deliver a GRUNDFOS RSI Inverter Solar Pumping System at the Crystal Plains property to supplying onsite bore water to the property’s many beef cattle watering troughs.
Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment’s Rockhampton branch specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of innovative customised Solar Pumping systems for the commercial, agriculture and mining sectors of Central Queensland and the greater Capricorn Coast regions. Dowdens Rockhampton works closely with beef cattle producers to deliver innovative solar-powered stock watering systems that not only minimise human interaction with cattle but add value to the farms via efficient energy and water consumption.
The Problem
The existing pump was an old-line shaft MONO pump that was operated by a Diesel engine with the existing bore column also a problem because of accumulated rust. The consumer wanted to increase reliability and lower operating and maintenance costs.
Our Solution
An efficient Grundfos solar pumping system along with a stainless steel and poly pipe bore column construction would meet the customer’s requirements.
Once the proposal had been accepted, the Dowdens Industrial Workshop began with the 18 x 270 Watt Solar Modules that were to be attached to 3 x 6 Module Fixed Post Array Frames. As an Authorised Grundfos Distributor, Dowdens Pumping Rockhampton was able to confidently recommend a Grundfos RSI Inverter together with the efficient Submersible Pump to be mounted and installed on this solar pumping system.
The system pumps directly from a bore to an elevated position on the Crystal Plains property where the customer is then able to gravity feed from their established tank farm to the greater majority of his property. On average the pump transfers 50,000L/day.
Operating costs were lowered via the system utilising a Grundfos Inverter with Sine Wave Filter Isolation Switch together with a tank level pressure switch – meaning the pump would start and stop automatically, only when needed. This automatic operation eliminated the need for the client to regularly drive to the bore to start and stop the pump. This increased pumping efficiency also saved on the overall cost of diesel to refuel the pump.
The Grundfos Inverter with Sine Wave Filter Isolation Switch, together with the Grundfos Submersible Borehole Pump were pre-wired on a custom-fabricated steel mounting frame to enable easy ‘plug & play ‘ installation. Dowdens supplied 5km of poly pipe for both the tank fill line and the gravity feed lines. The entire Grundfos RSI Solar Pumping System was designed, manufactured, installed and commissioned on time and within budget.
Key Components
- Grundfos 2.2 kW RSI Inverter
- Grundfos Sine Wave Filter & Lockable Isolator
- Grundfos Submersible Borehole Pump
- 3 x 6 Module Fixed Post Array Frames
- 5km of 63mm PN8 Iplex Poly Pipe with Plasson Ag Fittings & Joiners
- 18 x 270 Watt solar modules
Project Design Philosophy
Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment Rockhampton branches design philosophy for this project was:
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Innovation
- Ease of Installation
- Simple & Effective Pump Operation
- System Reliability & Reduced Ongoing Maintenance.
Customer Review
“We have been working with the team from Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment’s Rockhampton Branch for a number of years and have always been happy with their service and back up support. We highly recommend Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment’s Rockhampton for all their help sourcing what we have needed for all our efficient stock watering systems & solar pumping applications. But it’s not just the products, Dowdens have also installed & commissioned all these pumping systems for us. Cheers.”
Vicki Dmitrieff
Owner – Kurrajong Pastoral Company
Brands used in this project
