Paphos Life

To filter your pool water with solar power installing a special DC pool pump and solar panels I described in my post "Renewable Energy #1" already.
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=1050

There are many people which don't want to change their existing pump and other installations as their system is working well and perhaps relatively new. Others installed already a small so called net-metering PV system, thinking they produce enough kWh's to run also the pool pump 6-8 h/day in hot summer. If they don't use air-cons as well it could be OK. If this is not the case, then this new technology from ABB can be easily installed.

It consists only of 4-5 solar panels installed somewhere at your property, on the ground or roof/pergola near the pool. These PV panels are then connected with an so called driver device, installed in the pool room and connected with your existing old pool pump. Your old pump will perform the same or even better than it does now, just with the power of the Sun. (in terms of water-circulating capacity) Any size of pump can be driven by PV power. This new device from ABB regulates the motor speed according to the Sun power delivered from the panels.

Depending your pool size the payback period (ROI) will be ca 4 years and good quality solar panels p.e. REC, will do the job more than 30 years to come. One more important thing: It is absolutely legal to install that system without permit from EAC.

Max
Renewable Energy Consultant

Sounds similar the set up we had installed as part of our house build. On a day like today it starts the pump at around 7am and will run until about 15:30.

Good post Max, thanks.

Background:
Inverter drives are also called variable frequency drives, amongst other things. They have been around for years (traceable back to patents by GEC in 1910). But the technology continues to improve. In general, they go between an AC supply and an AC motor, with fancy controls over the motor being accomplished by the rectifier-inverter system in the middle. A side effect of the control is increased energy efficiency. [See Wiki for more - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-frequency_drive]
To power an existing (AC) pool pump using solar panels, the DC output from the panels is, in principle, connected between the rectifier and inverter.

Many companies make inverter drives, not just ABB.

Nothing wrong with ABB's offering; read all about it:
- https://new.abb.com/drives/low-voltage- ... ump-drives
- https://library.e.abb.com/public/6cc4b6 ... 21Fq8zPekS
- https://library.e.abb.com/public/156326 ... 5_UM_D.pdf (manual - 436 pages)

Note:
- It is a fair-sized 'brick', and it needs 75mm ventilation space above and below, so although it can be mounted on a DIN rail, don't expect to fit it inside your existing control panel.
- The ABB ACS355 is a family of inverter drives; you need to select the right one. For most pool pumps, you should be able to get one for under £300. But expect your installer to charge more, as he has the burden of specification and procurement, and overall system design to suit your circumstances.
- Although the documentation states of the ACS355: "The drive can be used for controlling fans and pumps, but the ACS310 is more suited to these applications.", only the ACS355 has a variant that accepts input from solar panels.

Mike

Thanks for info Max and Mike.... so, in real-life spndoolies (Euros) what would such a system cost to install and how many years to pay for itself?

Green Air's contact details are here. I would imagine it would be best to ask them direct, as it would no doubt depend on the size of your pool etc.

https://www.paphoslife.com/directory/entry/greenair

Dominic wrote: ↑Tue Jun 05, 2018 2:41 pm Green Air's contact details are here. I would imagine it would be best to ask them direct, as it would no doubt depend on the size of your pool etc.

https://www.paphoslife.com/directory/entry/greenair

On the same page one can see how the driver device looks like... and more

Max

Well ask them then for a rough ball park price then.

Yes, and any other company that might do them. I know Green Air do them, because I did the web page about them. But do bear in mind that any ball park figure will be just that. For anything costing any sort of large wedge, it is always good to get quotes from multiple sources based on as accurate information as possible. All I would say is that the cost will be a few thousand as opposed to a few hundred. How few will depend on your requirements.