Raising the waters

Lift irrigation is getting a boost from synchronous motors

In India, the scarcity of water is unfortunately a harsh reality. The country’s economy relies on agriculture. Farming on land located in high or arid regions has its challenges. One way of overcoming those challenges is lift irrigation, a technique that involves lifting large volumes of water from a river or reservoir to be redistributed in channels, transforming farming conditions in these areas.

The process involves both a vertical pump and a motor. Synchronous motors in particular are well-suited for the combination of high power and low speed found in vertical pump applications. The motors operate with high efficiency under normal constant speed conditions and can handle the demanding counter-torque curve of a
pump during start-up

Lift irrigation systems are comprised of one or more pumping stations with three to 10 pumps per station. Installations may also include a storage dam and when pure gravity is insufficient to redistribute the water a series of pump equipped booster stations. Thanks to this technology, water distribution can be provided at pumping capacities of close to 700 m3//s to large areas involving distances of up to 300 km, and 60m altitude differences.

Read the full article to see the pump assembly in more detail.