The total yearly value of agricultural exports in the U.S. is $139.8 billion. Because there is so much money within this important sector, not to mention the 2 million farms across the U.S., energy consumption remains one of the most important factors of the agricultural industry. Because of the lack of three-phase electrical supply in most rural areas the agricultural industry is heavily reliant on internal combustion motors or VFD’s to perform tasks such as irrigation pumping. However, thanks to some innovative developments with the written-pole single-phase motor, reliable and affordable electric drives are are giving commercial farms more options. Here are some of the major benefits of BELLE Single-Phase Written-Pole electric motors:
Less Maintenance
Internal combustion motors such as stationary diesels require regular oil changes and even periodic rebuilds. On top of that they can be temperamental, unreliable and even run out of fuel. Alternatively, a written-pole single-phase motor such as a BELLE Motor from Single Phase Power Solutions only requires a bi-annual inspection and some light greasing significantly reducing the cost of operation.
Cost Savings
In addition to the massive savings from avoiding maintenance and downtime expense, electric drives are also more affordable to operate than internal combustion motors. Whether operating off natural gas or diesel, after the cost of utility line extension is recovered the cost of electricity will always be lower than running on fossil fuels. This makes a large horsepower single-phase motor an attractive option.
Cleaner Power
When it comes to clean power you can’t get much cleaner than an electric motor. Unfortunately many rural utility co-ops regulate the size of electric motors that farmers can use due to the tremendous power three-phase, large horsepower motors draw on startup. Also, in areas where three-phase power is unavailable, farmers are forced to use VFD’s or Variable Frequency Drives which are also regulated by co-ops because they create distortion on the electric grid. In applications where a written-pole single-phase motor is utilized both of these problems are avoided because these types of large horsepower electric motors require minimal power on startup, produce no harmonic distortion or voltage sag and they actually “clean up” the electricity on the grid.
Agriculture affects everyone and even small fluctuations that affect growers will eventually be noticed in the grocery store and at the family table. Fortunately, there have been plenty of advancements in recent years within the agricultural community, and it looks like that trend will continue into the future. If you want to learn more about single-phase motors for agricultural work, contact Single Phase Power Solutions today.
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