The demand for water continues to grow. Especially in arid and remote regions the reliable supply of water represents a challenge. Wilo, the Dortmund technology company, sees great potential in the solar-powered Wilo-Actun OPTI-MS. The submersible pump is independent of the power grid and provides optimal water output, which can be adjusted to suit the user’s own demands.
Water demand is growing worldwide. Here, climate change is only a problem for freshwater supplies. Continual population growth, advancing urbanisation, rising needs in agriculture and the increasing pollution of water are far more problematic. In many countries droughts and water shortages cause suffering to those affected and pose an existential threat for agriculture as an industry. A pump which is supplied with electricity from solar power. Solar power is free and readily available without the need for infrastructure such as power cables or roads to transport fuel.
Besides pumping drinking water to supply small settlements, it is also suitable for agricultural irrigation and livestock farming. The integrated frequency converter means it is possible to use both solar power as well as being connected to an alternating current mains supply. The alternating current mains supply can be viewed as a “backup” when no solar power is available but where, for example, the water must continue to be pumped for a limited time in case of a special need. The Actun OPTI-MS guarantees optimal water output thanks to its high motor and hydraulic efficiencies and a dynamic Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithm (MPPT): “How much power the solar panel can provide depends on the sun – the respective performance potential depends on the location, time and weather”, explains Zielinski. “The integrated microprocessor calculates the optimal ratio between electric current and voltage using the MPPT algorithm, in order to demand the greatest amount of power. The result is a higher speed and therefore a greater amount of pumped water.”
