Lorentz Solar Pumps
Sunelec is the Philippine Distribution Partner of LORENTZ, the market leader in solar powered water pumping solutions.
LORENTZ technology uses the power of the sun to pump water, sustaining and enhancing the life of millions of people, their livestock and crops. This is encompassed in our company strapline – Sun. Water. Life.
Founded in Germany during 1993 LORENTZ has pioneered, innovated and excelled in the engineering and manufacturing of solar powered water pumping. We design, develop and manufacture the widest range of solar pumps of any company. Mechanical, electronic and software design is all in-house with a specialized team that have been working in solar pumping for 20 years. Our design activities are focused in our Global Headquarters and Technology Center just outside of Hamburg, Germany.
LORENTZ technology uses the power of the sun to pump water, sustaining and enhancing the life of millions of people, their livestock and crops. This is encompassed in our company strapline – Sun. Water. Life.
Founded in Germany during 1993 LORENTZ has pioneered, innovated and excelled in the engineering and manufacturing of solar powered water pumping. We design, develop and manufacture the widest range of solar pumps of any company. Mechanical, electronic and software design is all in-house with a specialized team that have been working in solar pumping for 20 years. Our design activities are focused in our Global Headquarters and Technology Center just outside of Hamburg, Germany.
Applications
Drinking Water
Access to a clean, reliable water supply is critical for the survival of humans and animals. Ground water sources offer a cleaner and reliable supply of drinking water.
With a focus on reliability and efficiency LORENTZ has perfected unique designs for pumps, DC drives and controllers. Components are designed and manufactured using the highest quality materials to ensure a long and trouble free life with low maintenance requirements and low operating costs. LORENTZ pumps are matched to local water conditions for optimum performance. Intelligent designs keep electronics above ground and the brushless DC drives match solar generators perfectly. LORENTZ solar pumping products deliver drinking water to people and livestock economically and reliably. |
|
Irrigation
The need to irrigate agricultural land efficiently, economically and sustainably is critical for food security. Costs for irrigation using diesel power are rising at >10 % per year.
LORENTZ solar irrigation solutions produce no emissions, generate no noise. Solar power for irrigation is more reliable than wind power while being significantly cheaper and cleaner than diesel power. LORENTZ solar pumps complement the design of drip irrigation systems, delivering water precisely and efficiently to individual plants. Very high volumes of water for large scale irrigation can also be supported through a wide range of pump sizes and vertical lifts. LORENTZ solar irrigation solutions are a very attractive alternative to diesel powered pumping and support sustainable agriculture. |
|
Responsible Leisure
For homes with swimming pools, circulation and filtration pumps used to keep pools clean are typically the second biggest consumers of electricity.
Using the technology, expertise and experience gained in critical drinking water applications, LORENTZ has a range of pool pumps that use zero electricity and have a long life. Additional benefits come from quiet operation and modular construction for simple maintenance. LORENTZ solutions save the homeowner money and reduce their environmental footprint. Tax benefits and government grants also encourage homeowners to make the change to solar pumping. LORENTZ pool pumps are a compelling proposition for homeowners and commercial pool operators in a sector where operating costs need to be minimized. |
|
Lorentz Company Video
This video will show what Lorentz does as a company, the products it manufactures, and the market that it caters to.
|
Lorentz COMPASS Software
In order to ensure sound design for every system, Lorentz uses a proprietary system sizing software which utilizes NASA meteorological data to provide accurate output forecast, including seasonal variation caused by changing weather.
|
Lorentz Solar Powered Pump Types:
Solar submersible pumps for drinking and irrigation
|
Solar surface pumps for drinking and irrigation
|
Solar pool pumps for pool filtration
|
Solar boost pumps for high pressure applications
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does solar pumping work?
A: Energy from the sun in the form of light is converted by solar panels to electrical energy. This electrical energy is regulated by a pump controller, which powers a motor. The motor converts the electrical energy to rotating mechanical energy and drives a pump. The pump takes in a fluid, usually water, from a source such as a well or a cistern and does flow work to the water, delivering it to higher pressures or to higher elevations. This water would be ready to use for drinking, irrigation or other uses, or could be stored in an overhead tank for future use
Q: Can it run at night?
A: With a solar direct system, no. However, ample pressure should be supplied via an overhead tank. If night time pump operation is an absolute requirement, we may integrate a battery system with the solar pump, although we do not recommend this due to cost considerations.
Q: How do you determine the size of solar pumps?
A: We determine the appropriate size of solar pumps using a design software that incorporates solar energy, temperature, and rainfall data. The software requires information about the location of the installation, the daily water requirement, and the total dynamic head where the water will be delivered. The software processes this information and recommends a solar pump system of the optimal size for the specific application. The required information is ideally provided by customers by filling out an enquiry sheet.
Q: Why is it so expensive?
A: When investing in any equipment, we have to analyze the full cost of ownership, which includes not only the equipment purchase, but also costs for operation, maintenance, repair, spare parts, etc. For solar pumps, the cost is mostly in the upfront, since the equipment is solar powered (P0.00 operation cost), built for harsh environments (high quality materials - will rarely need repairs), and operates maintenance free (no need to change oil, change consumable parts, etc.). Usually, for areas using diesel pump and considering solar pump as an alternative, ROI can be as fast as 1.5 years.
Q: I have an existing AC pump. Can you use this to upgrade the system to a solar pump system?
A: Yes, but it will be costlier to setup and to maintain. Lorentz solar pump systems are optimized for solar operation. The system does not need batteries or inverters, and can run safely even with varying irradiance conditions. If we use an existing AC pump, we will have to invest additionally a charge controller, which charges the battery, a battery for energy storage, and an inverter to convert DC to AC. In every step of the way, there is conversion losses, and all these equipments will cost additional, the battery more since it will need replacing in short periods of time. If you use a Lorentz solar pump system running on "solar direct", you will only need the solar panels, the solar pump controller, and the solar pump - less components, cheaper, less conversion losses, more reliability.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ solar panels?
A: Life would depend on usage environment. LORENTZ panels are expected to last at least 20 years.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ pumps?
A: Depending on usage environment, LORENTZ pumps could last up to 8 years before needing replacement.
A: Energy from the sun in the form of light is converted by solar panels to electrical energy. This electrical energy is regulated by a pump controller, which powers a motor. The motor converts the electrical energy to rotating mechanical energy and drives a pump. The pump takes in a fluid, usually water, from a source such as a well or a cistern and does flow work to the water, delivering it to higher pressures or to higher elevations. This water would be ready to use for drinking, irrigation or other uses, or could be stored in an overhead tank for future use
Q: Can it run at night?
A: With a solar direct system, no. However, ample pressure should be supplied via an overhead tank. If night time pump operation is an absolute requirement, we may integrate a battery system with the solar pump, although we do not recommend this due to cost considerations.
Q: How do you determine the size of solar pumps?
A: We determine the appropriate size of solar pumps using a design software that incorporates solar energy, temperature, and rainfall data. The software requires information about the location of the installation, the daily water requirement, and the total dynamic head where the water will be delivered. The software processes this information and recommends a solar pump system of the optimal size for the specific application. The required information is ideally provided by customers by filling out an enquiry sheet.
Q: Why is it so expensive?
A: When investing in any equipment, we have to analyze the full cost of ownership, which includes not only the equipment purchase, but also costs for operation, maintenance, repair, spare parts, etc. For solar pumps, the cost is mostly in the upfront, since the equipment is solar powered (P0.00 operation cost), built for harsh environments (high quality materials - will rarely need repairs), and operates maintenance free (no need to change oil, change consumable parts, etc.). Usually, for areas using diesel pump and considering solar pump as an alternative, ROI can be as fast as 1.5 years.
Q: I have an existing AC pump. Can you use this to upgrade the system to a solar pump system?
A: Yes, but it will be costlier to setup and to maintain. Lorentz solar pump systems are optimized for solar operation. The system does not need batteries or inverters, and can run safely even with varying irradiance conditions. If we use an existing AC pump, we will have to invest additionally a charge controller, which charges the battery, a battery for energy storage, and an inverter to convert DC to AC. In every step of the way, there is conversion losses, and all these equipments will cost additional, the battery more since it will need replacing in short periods of time. If you use a Lorentz solar pump system running on "solar direct", you will only need the solar panels, the solar pump controller, and the solar pump - less components, cheaper, less conversion losses, more reliability.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ solar panels?
A: Life would depend on usage environment. LORENTZ panels are expected to last at least 20 years.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ pumps?
A: Depending on usage environment, LORENTZ pumps could last up to 8 years before needing replacement.
