Why add a VFD to a pump room?
By installing a VFD on a pump, an aquatic facility can save as much as five to 10 per cent on energy costs. What aquatic facility manager would not want to put these savings for each pump back into the operating budget?
VFD’s are capable of doing the following:
- ‘Right-size’ the pump to the exact flow required;
- Save energy with constant flow as filters get dirty (with optional flow sensor);
- Offer ‘off-hour’ flow management capability;
- Provide high efficiency up to 98 per cent (adjusts drive input voltage for best efficiency point);
- Eliminates need for motor starters;
- Provide two-step ramps (soft start feature);
- Offer overload trip protection to protect the pump’s motor and drive from voltage spikes and phase unbalance; and
- Save up to 60 per cent or more on a pump’s electricity usage.
To quantitatively work on reducing the operating costs associated with running the pump room, start by determining exactly how much it costs to run the facility’s system. To establish this figure, first determine the litres per minute (lpm) (gallons per minute [gpm]) and total dynamic head (TDH) (the pressure head difference between the inlet and outlet of the pump) for each pump, how long each pump runs each day, and what the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) the utility company is charging.
After arriving at a clear dollar figure, the ROI of adding a VFD can be easily determined.
