The Seaman’s Fountain of Bardolino in Italy is working again after two years, thanks to the Franklin Electric pump system, consisting of a 6" pump with a 6" encapsulated motor.

Pressure boosting for water games

The musical fountain of Bardolino on the shores of Lake Garda, designed in 2001, was finally back to bubble again after two years of standstill, thanks to a visual and technical redesign by a local company. The new system consists of a 6" pump system from Franklin Electric, which was provided by the company Idroagrifer in Pastrengo (VR). Idroagrifer is a Franklin Electric distributor of borehole systems in the Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige area.

In this type of ornamental fountain, the pump system pushes the water through jet nozzles. This increases the pressure and the fountains reach the desired height.

The 6" systems from Franklin Electric consist of a 6" encapsulated submersible motor and a 6" Stainless steel submersible pump, which are characterised by high reliability and durability.

Reliability and robustness

Franklin Electric‘s submersible motors allow power ratings up to 45 kW and are equipped with hermetically sealed windings. This anti-tracking system provides mechanical support, isolates the winding in the stator and ensures rapid heat dissipation.
The motors are equipped with the SandFighter® sealing system with SiC/SiC mechanical seal and sand protection as standard. The hydrodynamic liquid-lubricated radial bearings and heavy-duty Kingsbury type thrust bearing also ensure 100% maintenance-free operation.

The 6" submersible pumps of the VS series are made of Stainless steel and guarantee a long service life. Thanks to the proven components, this pump can withstand the toughest environments. It is suitable for flow rates up to 80 m³/h. The maximum permissible sand quantity for this series of submersible pumps is 100 g/m³.

The water installation is dedicated to Saint Alberti, a navy engine mechanic who went on board the submarine Topazio during the Second World War, which did not return to base in 1943 after a war mission.
 
Today, the sprinkler fountain, whose play of lights is reminiscent of the Italian colours, delights both tourists and locals walking along one of the most famous shores of Lake Garda. And thanks to the durable Franklin Electric integrated products, it will continue to do so for many years to come.

For more information about the products, please refer to the product sites or the attached pdf.

Approx. 30 multistage pumps of the EH (horizontal) and EV (vertical) series have been installed in various irrigation systems in Veneto (Italy) for pressure delivery in the distribution of water-fertiliser mixtures in distribution channels.

Requirements for irrigation systems constantly increasing

In cooperation with Irrigazione Gastaldelli, who organises the installation of irrigation systems, Franklin Electric
supplied about 30 multistage pumps to 10 local agri-food companies in Rovigo, Verona, Padua and Ferrara. Both for fruit growing (pears and blueberries) and for vegetable cultivation in greenhouses and in the ground, the ideal
suitability of Franklin Electric’s pump systems was demonstrated.

Fertiliser irrigation technology is becoming increasingly common in agriculture as it maximises the management of raw materials such as water and water-soluble fertilisers, and reduces the risks associated with water shortages. Advanced technologies can optimise the fertiliser irrigation process enormously. However, this requires high precision in dosing and scheduling of the system to distribute the necessary nutrients to the plants in a targeted manner.

The advantages of fertiliser irrigation lie in the reduced manpower requirements due to the automated processes,
in the reduced impact on the soil due to tillage without use of agricultural equipments and in the better distribution of the fertiliser. In addition, there are fewer scattering losses with nutrient-water solutions, as drip irrigation precisely targets the root of the plant. However, this technique also has disadvantages, as it can only be used for irrigated crops and it is always necessary to use a technologically advanced and therefore often expensive system compared to traditional methods.

Avoidance of corrosion, unnecessary repairs and downtime

Because the technical demands on the irrigation systems (greenhouse or ground) are high, all parts of the system
must meet the highest quality standards in terms of performance, materials and flexibility.
For this reason, Franklin Electric‘s multistage pumps are the first choice for these systems. The Stainless steel construction ensures good resistance to the highly corrosive fertilisers and long-term reliability, avoiding unnecessary system downtime due to component replacement.

The excellent performances and the wide range of flow rates, up to 29 m³/h for the horizontal EH series and up to
115 m³/h for the vertical EV series, allow pressure modulation to meet the requirements of any system. Appropriate water pressure is needed to ensure the necessary mixing of water and fertiliser, and thus the supply and growth of the plants.
Franklin Electric‘s multistage pumps can ensure this high pressure and thus distribute the perfectly composed solution with micro-sprinklers in the right amount over the entire extent of the plant. This guarantees each seedling the necessary nutrient supply.

Flexibility for all needs

The pressure booster pumps must transport the water-fertiliser solution from the tanks into the system. The space
available to place the pumps and the distances that have to be covered when transporting the liquid to the plant
vary greatly. Franklin Electric therefore offers a wide range of pumps to provide the optimum solution for each application. The horizontal multistage pumps make it possible to save space at height, while the vertical multistage pumps are suitable for applications with little usable installation space.

In addition, Franklin Electric offers a wide range of accessories, from pressure vessels to shut-off valves and special designs such as self-priming horizontal pumps or vertical high-pressure pumps connected in series.
Last but not least, the DrivE-Tech and Drive-Tech MINI frequency converters optimise the operation of the pumps
through state-of-the-art electronic technology.

For more information about the products, please refer to the product sites or the attached pdf.

The historic Thruxton race track located in the south of the UK has been equipped with new water boosting sets powered by Franklin Electric, high quality pumps and smart controls offer a reliable solution with efficiencies in mind.

Increased requirements on pressure and flow

As the Thruxton racecourse site has grown over the years, the owners found that the water system struggled to maintain required flow and pressure.

Henry Gill of HG Water was therefore approached to design a new booster system for the historic racecourse‘s water supply that could keep up with the increased water demand.

The complete water booster packages were supplied by KGN Pillinger, a British water booster manufacturer. Richard Sharp (Business Development Manager) says that when it came to selecting the components, it was quickly clear that Franklin Electric‘s E-Tech product would be chosen, as the quality and competitive price of the Franklin Electric installation allowed KGN to build high quality equipment within the customer‘s budget.

Booster systems supply the racetrack

The installation is based on a booster set made by two vertical multistage EV10 pumps, each one equipped with DrivE-Tech 2.030 frequency converters, coupled in parallel via manifolds, shut-off valves and check valves. The DrivE-Tech frequency converters modulate the operating frequency in order to maintain a constant set value.

The system is complemented by an EH Dtm multistage horizontal pump, consisting of an EH 5/5T6 pump and the DrivE-Tech MINI integrated frequency converter.

Overall, the project includes new storage tanks, kiosks and booster pumps, as well as the variable-speed controls to feed the different areas of the site. The old piping was re-routed to the new kiosks, and thanks to the additional storage tank, sufficient water can now be distributed even during peak periods.

> The vertical multistage pumps from Franklin Electric offer high levels of efficiencies within a robust design and when used with the DrivE-Tech variable speed controls the increased demands can now be met. <  (Henry Gill of HG Water)

For more information about the products, please refer to the product sites or the attached pdf.

With the right components, the efficiency of a heating system with well installation can be increased and energy costs sustainably reduced. Geoquip Water Solutions in the UK recommends the combination with the High Efficiency System from Franklin Electric.

The increasing demand for renewable energies is causing the increasing numbers of geothermal heating systems in both the commercial and private sectors. Savings of up to 80 % compared to conventional fossil fuels and the reduction of CO2 emissions are among the advantages. In addition, there are various possibilities of financial subsidies from the legislators.

In addition to systems with geothermal probes and geothermal collectors, there is the option of operating a heating system with a well system. The two wells, the so-called suction and absorption wells, transport groundwater to the surface and use the heat of the groundwater as an energy supplier for water-water heat pumps, which extract the heat from the groundwater to heat rooms and process and drinking water in the house.

Since groundwater is an important resource for plants and living organisms, it must be recirculated. The pump in the suction well pumps the groundwater to the surface. After the thermal energy has been recovered in the heat exchanger, the now colder water is pumped back into the ground water via the absorption well. When positioning the two wells, it is important to consider the flow direction of the groundwater.

Immense savings potential through the right borehole pump

With geothermal heating systems, special care must be taken at the planning stage, because the potential savings over the lifetime of such a system are immense if the system is correctly dimensioned from the outset. The cost of purchasing and installing a typical geothermal heat pump system in an average house in the UK is around 14,000 to 19,000 pounds. A multiple of this costs the energy that is invested over the entire life of the system. It is therefore worthwhile to design the system ideally in order to achieve the maximum benefit.

The first thing to do is to make sure that the most efficient geothermal heat pump is used for operation, which also applies to the extraction pump in an open-loop system. This may sound obvious, but it makes no sense to have a „green“ geothermal heating system if the source pump is working around the clock and consuming far more electricity than necessary to move the water in the loop.

Therefore, the selection of the right components in particular is crucial. In an open-circuit system, the borehole pump is an important component of this. If the right pump for the job is not chosen here, the system cannot run effectively.

Permanent magnet technology as the key to outstanding efficiency

The key factor in these energy savings is the efficiency of the motor‘s permanent magnet technology. Instead of a short-circuit induction rotor, Franklin Electric uses a permanent magnet rotor design with integrated magnets. The total electrical rotor losses of a motor are eliminated, resulting in a significant improvement in efficiency. In addition, the PM motor has lower heat generation and requires less current to run at the same pump load. A frequency converter is required to operate a PM motor.

Remote control via App

The system is available in the sizes 4" 6", 8" and 10". Included are a submersible motor, a submersible pump, a frequency converter and the matching output filter.

The 4" system also offers the ability to remotely control and monitor system performance in real time using an App. Franklin Electric‘s support team can also access the system in this way to assist with problems or setting new parameters.

For Geoquip Water Solutions, the HES is the most energy-efficient solution

Mike Deed, Managing Director of Geoquip Water Solutions, has more than 30 years’ experience in the water treatment and solutions sector. He works with strategic partners to ensure customers receive the maximum benefit from their investment. He believes that the most energy efficient solution on the market is the High Efficiency Borehole System (HES), designed and manufactured by Franklin Electric.

» Here, Franklin Electric has set new standards in energy efficiency, because unlike most systems on the market, this system is not equipped with an - usually less energy-efficient - asynchronous motor, but uses an asynchronous NEMA standard permanent magnet motor, which has achieved motor energy savings of up to 21 % compared to standard asynchronous motors in numerous installations worldwide.«

The HES selection and sizing tool provided on the Franklin Electric website helps to select the right system. This tool can also be used to compare energy savings based on runtime and current energy prices. Systems typically pay for themselves within the first two years.

As with all things, being armed with the right information and components makes a difference. Given the long-term benefits that can be achieved through geothermal systems, it is definitely worth investing in the best.

This is how the thermal heat is obtained

The water-to-water heat pump transfers the thermal energy to a special refrigerant. This is initially liquid and evaporates when it absorbs the thermal energy. It then flows through a scroll compressor, which in turn increases the pressure and temperature of the medium. In the process, the steam is passed through two interlocking spirals. As one of the spirals moves eccentrically in circles, several gas spaces are created between the spirals, which become smaller and smaller towards the inside of the component, thus causing the pressure to rise. In the middle of the scroll compressor, the gases are finally pressed into the connected pipe. Here, the transported energy is transferred to the heating water. The refrigerant vapour cools down and liquefies again.

The efficiency of the system depends on the temperature difference between the design temperature of the heating system and the temperature of the environmental heat source. The groundwater is about 10 °C all year round. The compressor therefore does not have to use as much energy to raise the temperature, which makes the system very energy efficient.

In Spain, a vineyard is irrigated using the 4" Solar High Efficiency System. The customer’s initial skepticism quickly turned into enthusiasm about the enormous cost savings and the excellent support during commissioning.

Solar system for irrigation

The 4" High Efficiency System was installed in a customer‘s vineyards in central Spain for irrigation. The system consists of the following components:

• 4" Encapsulated permanent magnet Solar motor 3 kW, 220 V
• 4" submersible pump VS4
• Variable frequency drive DrivE-Tech 3.030 Solar MP
• flow switch

 The system was connected to 2 x 9 PV panels of 275 watts each.

Cost reduction through the HES

The local Franklin distributor Likitech assisted the customer during selecting the right system and commissioning. The customer was initially skeptical about using Franklin Electric‘s High Efficiency System because he had been using a competitor‘s system. However, knowing the high quality of other Franklin products, he was finally convinced. Also the promise that Franklin Electric‘s Technical Service would provide remote support during the commissioning of the system and would also assist the customer with any future problems, made the customer trust in Franklin. Ultimately, he is thrilled with the results, as the system is operating even more efficiently and cost-saving than expected. Franklin Electric is setting new standards with its High Efficiency Systems (HES) up to 250 kW, achieving energy savings of up to 21% compared to systems with asynchronous motors.

While it is also the combination of perfectly matched components, the decisive factor in the energy savings is the highly efficient permanent magnet motor technology, which almost completely reduces rotor losses and thus significantly motor current and heat rise. In many cases, reduced motor current equals less drop cable cross sectional area further reducing overall installation cost.

And in the case of solar systems, the MPPT algorithm and integrated voltage boosting (up to 2.2 kW) ensure that the number of solar modules can be significantly reduced, as the system output is maximized accordingly.

A farm irrigates its crops with water from a 100-meter-deep well. This is pumped with the help of a 4-inch solar well system from Franklin Electric and solar energy from 9 solar panels.

Solar system for watering plants from a water tank

A farm on the island of Paros in Greece installed Franklin Electric‘s 4-inch High Efficiency System (HES) to pump water from a well application into a water tank for crop irrigation. The water is pumped from a depth of approximately 100 meters. 

Installed is a Solar High Efficiency System with the following components:

• Encapsulated 4" Solar motor 200 V three-phase 2.2 kW with permanent magnet technology
• 4" submersible pump VS2/20
• Frequency converter Drive-Tech MINI Solar 2.015 MP
• Level switch for the water tank

Energy savings of up to 20%

Franklin Electric is setting new standards in energy savings and efficiencies with its High Efficiency systems. Compared to standard asynchronous motors, savings of up to 20% have been achieved in the numerous systems already installed worldwide. It is the combination of perfectly matched components and their control: motor, pump, frequency converter and, if necessary, output filter harmonize perfectly from a technical point of view. First and foremost, however, it is due to the highly efficient permanent magnet motor. The technology eliminates rotor losses and thus significantly reduces current and self-heating. In many cases, the current reduction achieved leads to smaller cable cross-sections, which in turn has a positive effect on overall costs.

Setting up the system remotely

Even though the commissioning of the system is very intuitive thanks to the Franklin Electric app solution, it sometimes takes a bit of intuition and experience to find the right settings.
It‘s a good thing that Franklin Electric customers can rely on the assistance of the Technical Support in such cases! Since the system can even be controlled remotely via the mobile app, the customer was helped quickly.

In this application example, the system was commissioned in bad weather, not the best starting conditions for a solar system. However, Franklin‘s experts were able to adjust the parameters so that the motor turned and water was pumped despite the bad weather conditions. When the sun came out, the system ran optimally and pumped about 2.0 m³/hour. water, so that the water tank filled up quickly.

Installation of the 4“ HES: When the filling of the tank has dropped to a defined level, the pump restarts independently to refill the water tank.

A poultry farm in England implements Franklin Electric’s EH Dtm multistage horizontal pump to reliably control and incrementally increase low flow and pressure to best suit the drinking water needs of young birds.

Control of flow and pressure

When raising chicks, it is enormously important to provide the animals with as much fresh water as they need, and this varies enormously as the animals grow. The biggest challenge here, especially during the growth period from two-day-old chicks to 34-day maturity, is controlling the flow of potable water to the production units. The pumps are typically installed in large on-site water storage tanks, from where the water is routed through the necessary filtration systems and drinking lines to the animals.

At the same time, the requirements for the new system were very high. Initially, the young animals require only very small, slow amounts of water, but the demand gradually increases, so the system had to be able to gradually increase the flow and pressure. As more and more emphasis is being placed on the energy balance of the systems when making new purchases, the new systems not only had to meet the high demands, but also be optimized in terms of energy by reducing energy consumption and increasing the efficiency of the system.

Pressure boosting system with 24/7 monitoring

Agri Management Solutions (AMS) in Hereford, England, provides water and irrigation services to poultry farmers. Working with Franklin Electric and its strategic partner Geoquip Water Solutions, the company‘s exacting requirements were met in full by installing a state-of-the-art booster system from Franklin Electric.

The EH Series multistage booster pumps are designed to meet all pressure boosting requirements. The stainless steel construction provides high performance in a variety of applications. The EH Series is offered in five flow rates and various power sizes (single-phase or three-phase) for a wide variety of applications.

The EH Series multistage vertical pumps are combined with the new Drive-Tech MINI inverter to increase the energy savings potential of these pumping systems. The Drive-Tech MINI uses innovative technology that ideally combines efficiency, ease of use, innovation and safety. In addition, the inverter enables 24/7 monitoring and control, which can even be done remotely via Bluetooth if desired.

Efficiencies increased, costs reduced

Ellis Whittal-Williams of AMS has worked with Franklin Electric and its strategic partner Geoquip Water Solutions and is thrilled. He says the units are completely reliable and also save a tremendous amount of money. Field reports show that the system saves an average of 40% energy compared to conventional speed control systems.

>> It is important to have a system that can handle a demand for very small, slow amounts of water when the birds are very young and allow them to gradually increase flow and pressure as the demand increases.  When the sun comes up and the birds wake up, the demand for water is higher. With the Drive-Tech MINI, we can run the pump constantly instead of stopping and starting it several times an hour. The pressure remains constant, resulting in smoother operation with less wear and tear and higher energy efficiency. <<

(Ellis Whittal-Williams from AMS)

More information about the EH Dtm series:

An orange orchard on the island of Mallorca is reliably irrigated from a 90-meter-deep well using Franklin Electric’s High Efficiency Solar Well System. The system is installed and maintained remotely using the Franklin app.

Solar system for irrigation

A farm in Pui on the island of Mallorca, Spain, has chosen Franklin Electric‘s Solar High Efficiency System (HES) to irrigate an orange orchard with about 40 trees. The system is powered by six 330-watt solar panels. In combination with the HES, the approx. 2 kW solar field output delivers so much water that, in addition to irrigating the trees, the water requirements of a guest house are also met. Here, the pool is now also filled and the lawns irrigated.

Installed was a 1.1 kW Solar High Efficiency System with the following components:

• 4" Encapsulated synchronous submersible Solar motor
• 4" submersible pump VS4
• Variable frequency drive DrivE-Tech MINI Solar MP
• flow switch

Up to 21% energy savings

In times of rising energy costs, new systems put more and more emphasis on the best possible efficiency. Here, Franklin Electric has set a new benchmark with its High Efficiency Systems (HES) up to 250 kW. Compared to standard asynchronous motors, energy savings up to 20% have been achieved in numerous systems installed.

But how are these energy savings achieved?
It is the combination of perfectly matched components and their control: motor, pump, frequency drive and output filter. Most importantly, it is the submersible motor’s permanent magnet equipped rotor that eliminates rotor losses thus significantly reducing motor current and heat rise. In many cases, reduced motor current equals less drop cable cross sectional area further reducing overall installation cost. Excellent partial-load efficiency of permanent magnet motors allows the entire power range to be covered with only a few different motor sizes, thus offering important stock-keeping advantages.

Maintenance and control via app

A major advantage of the system is that it can be controlled remotely via the mobile app. The owners of the estate are only temporarily on the island, but can always monitor and control their pumping system themselves via the app.

Franklin Electric not only supports its customers in the run-up to an investment and helps them select the right system and associated components, but also stands by the customer‘s side during commissioning. Any problems that arise can also be analyzed and remedied remotely by Franklin engineers.

Thus, the commissioning of this system can also be done remotely. The local distributor Likitech and Franklin Electric service engineers guided the customer step-by-step through the installation of the drive and motor.

Panhurst Farms in Marrakech / Morocco installed a Solar High Efficiency irrigation system at the beginning of the year. The expectations for this system were exceeded, as the system works even more effectively than expected. It not only provides water, but also impacts the livelihood of many people, education, health and above all hope in one of the poorest areas in Morocco.

Agriculture against poverty in the dry continental climate of Morocco

Without sufficient resources, the endless cycle of poverty in Morocco continues. The agricultural project is dependent on support. Franklin Electric has therefore donated the technical equipment to operate the well on Panhurst Farm.

The installed 6" High Efficiency Solar System with 18,5 kW nominal power consists of the following components:

• Encapsulated 6" Permanent magnet motor (max. 18.5 kW / 380 V / 3000 rpm)
• Submersible well pump (VS 30/13, 50 Hz)
• Frequency converter Industrial IP54 / 31 A
• Output filter (Sinusodial IP54 / 100 Hz)
• Flow switch

The system is operated in an existing well with a depth of 150 m and delivers approx. 30 m³/h of water. This is at least 210 m³ per day. On clear days this can be much more, because then the system continuously pumps water from the well. The High Efficiency System is driven by the energy generated by 80 solar panels.

The system was installed by a partner of Franklin Electric, that accompanied Panhurst Farms from the selection of the right system, through the installation of the individual components, to the final commissioning.

The system has been running stable and reliable since installation and has changed the way people work and live at Panhurst Farms.

"This self-running installation has saved us both precious time and much money that we would have otherwise spent on butane gas bottles, maintenance, and repairs on our vertical shaft-driven well pump. Your system has greatly decreased our personal stress load as well as sent our farm on a track toward sustainability. Thank you very much for your huge generosity and genuine care for us and those we serve." (Farr Family - founder of the farm)

Panhurst Farms

The Panhurst Farms agricultural project is located in a region of about 30 villages where poverty is high and is accompanied by illiteracy, limited educational opportunities and poor health.

Panhurst Farms aims to break the cycle of poverty by offering the rural population a real perspective by creating a working environment where employees receive income, mentoring and leadership responsibility. This way of sharing in prosperity through job creation minimizes dependency, preserves the dignity of each individual and empowers people to become agents of lasting change in their communities and society - one family at a time. The ultimate goal is lasting personal, social, economic and ecological change! Mentoring is tailored to the needs of each individual and promotes their talents.

The initial situation

The Waterworks of the City of Brno (Brnenske vodovody a kanalizace a.s.) asked the company PUMPA a.s., a customer of Franklin Electric, to evaluate the existing pumping stations in the cities of Březové and Svitavou. The aim was to upgrade the existing system to the latest technical standard and to find possible energy saving potentials. When the team from PUMPA a.s. arrived on site, the first step was to select a well for the project, where the energy audit would be carried out and which would be representative of the cities Březové and Svitavou.

The selected well was equipped with a pump with a 45 kW asynchronous electric motor. The pump worked at an operating point of Q=54 l/s and H=34 m. The adjustments to the required parameters (Q&H) were carried out mechanically (throttled) at that time. The annual power consumption at this well was 320.244 kWh. This corresponds to 0.2459 kWh/m³ per unit of water pumped.

The solution

In cooperation with the experts from Franklin Electric, the situation was analysed and the innovative High Efficiency System was chosen, which enables energy savings of up to 20 %.

The system consists of a 304SS NEMA synchronous motor, a frequency converter (VFD) and a suitable output filter. The system is supplemented by a suitable submersible pump.

High Efficiency System for the well:

• Rewindable permanent magnet submersible motor 22 - 30 kW
• Stainless steel submersible pump
• Variable Frequency Drive IP66 (VFD)
• Sinusoidal filter IP54
• flow meter

After evaluating all the advantages that the High Efficiency System would bring, the Waterworks decided to invest in the modernisation of the well. The equipment was installed by Franklin Electric.

The result exceeded expectations

It did not take long for the results of the newly installed system to become apparent, as energy costs fell continuously. The total annual consumption of electrical energy at the well decreased to 176.466 kWh and the energy consumption per unit of water pumped was 0.1355 kWh/m³.

The new system has therefore exceeded expectations, achieving a 45 % saving in total electrical energy consumption per m³ of water pumped compared to the previous equipment.

The reason for this enormous energy saving is partly due to the fact that the originally installed system had to be modernized, and also the set-up had to be optimized. The second reason is the outstanding efficiency of the Franklin Electric High Efficiency System. It is the combination of perfectly matched components and their control: motor, pump, frequency drive and output filter. Most importantly, it is the submersible motor’s permanent magnet equipped rotor that eliminates rotor losses thus significantly reducing motor current and heat rise. In many cases, reduced motor current equals less drop cable cross sectional area further reducing overall installation cost.

The return on investment for this project had been calculated for 2 years. However, due to the high energy savings, the entire investment for the well system was amortized after only 1.5 years.