Any experience with a variable speed drive on circulator pump?

elfie

interested in hearing from anyone who has familiarity with use of a VSD to control a circulating pump for a hot water heating system.





how do you use it? what inputs are used to control speed.



is it used to reduce heating water flow during period of low heating demand.



the installation i have is a motor that powers a pump 24/7 and is on for 5 months.  the water flow to facility includes a mixing valve to control temp flowing to facility (based on outside temp).



thanks

SWEI

pressure-dependent circulators

respond to zone valves opening and closing by speeding up or slowing down the flow of water in the distribution system.  Most so-called smart circulators operate on this principle.  You can use the same sort of strategy with a VFD on a conventional circulator.  As I've mentioned before, you should evaluate the current pump's operation and sizing before you start spending money.  It's possible one of the larger Magna, Stratos, or Viridian models could simply replace your current pump(s) with a packaged electronically commutated motor and built-in controls.  This would use far less energy than a retrofit VFD will and allow much greater turndown.

elfie

thanks - good link attached

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/explaining-variable-speed-to-customers



based on your info i found this great article able pump integrated VSD, very very helpful

 and lots of info to work with