Voltage Doubling means huge cost savings
Voltage Doubling is a patented variable frequency drive (VFD) and Phase Conversion technology engineered by Phase Technologies to help with the typical high cost of deep well and long lead applications by doubling the supply voltage. For example, if you have 230/240 volt A/C power available, these VFD's and digital phase converters step up the input and produce 460/480 volt A/C output without requiring an additional transformer.
For an AC motor of a given horsepower, increasing the operating voltage of the motor results in a decrease in the full load amperage. Lower amperage requirements allow a reduction in the size of the motor cable, significantly reducing the cost. The cost reduction from using a smaller cable can be dramatic in submersible pump applications where long motor leads are common.
| Motor Horsepower | Well Depth | 230V 3-Phase | 460V 3-Phase | Typical Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5 HP |
500 ft. | 8 AWG | 14 AWG | 60%+ |
| 1000 ft. | 4 AWG | 10 AWG | 65%+% | |
| 1500 ft. | 2 AWG | 8 AWG | 68%+ | |
7.5 HP |
500 ft. | 6 AWG | 12 AWG | 65%+ |
| 1000 ft. | 4 AWG | 10 AWG | 65%+ | |
| 1500 ft. | 2 AWG | 8 AWG | 68%+ | |
10 HP |
500 ft. | 6 AWG | 12 AWG | 65%+ |
| 1000 ft. | 2 AWG | 8 AWG | 68%+ | |
| 1500 ft. | 0 AWG | 6 AWG | 72%+ | |
15 HP |
500 ft. | 4 AWG | 10 AWG | 65%+ |
| 1000 ft. | 0 AWG | 6 AWG | 72%+ | |
| 1500 ft. | 000 AWG | 4 AWG | 80%+ |
Horsepower rating of largest or combined load that will be connected to the Phase Perfect®
The cost in cents per kilowatt/hour your utility charges you for electricity usage. You can estimate costs for your region by looking at the Average Price Chart on eia.gov.
Days per Week
Number of weeks per year and days per week you anticipate needing 3 Phase power available. For example: a business with typical operating hours might be 50 weeks per year and 5 days per week, while an elevator installation would require 52 weeks per year and 7 days per week.
The number of hours per day you anticipate not drawing a significant 3 Phase load. For example: a typical business might not draw a significant load right away in the morning, during breaks, or over the lunch hour, while an elevator might be idle 20 or more hours per day.
Typical woodworking or machine shop installation, estimated annual savings with Phase Perfect® versus Rotary:
$305.20/year
| Phase Perfect® | Rotary Converter | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Load Horsepower | 20 | 40 |
| Standby Power Consumption | 80W | 2260W |
| Idle Power Cost | $11.20 | $316.40 |
A variable frequency drive (VFD) is commonly used as a phase converter in pumping applications. VFD's are becoming the standard because they allow you to take advantage of variable speed, soft starting and stopping, constant pressure water systems, and advanced pump and well protection features. However, if only 230V single-phase is available, a VFD makes it difficult to boost the voltage from 230V to 460V.
Most VFD's induce significant harmonic distortion on the input side, and generate pulse-width-modulated (PWM) voltage on the output side. This makes using a transformer to increase the voltage impractical as the transformer may be damaged.
Phase Technologies has developed several unique lines of voltage doubling phase-converting VFD's and three phase VFD's. These variable frequency drives are capable of converting 208 V/230 V/240 V single-phase or three-phase to 460 V three-phase. Specifically designed for pumping applications, these VFD's have all the desirable features for pumping applications with an easy to use interface, and can save significant installation costs.