Pump Controls

Electrovarem Constant Speed Pump Controller

​The Electrovarem is the most advanced pump controller available for the residential market. In one device, it provides all the pump control and protection features that we recommend for most constant speed applications:

  1. Hydro tank
  2. Check valve
  3. Start on pressure; stop on pressure + no flow
  4. Pressure setpoint adjustable from 20 – 85 psig
  5. Installer sets initial pressure setting. Owner may adjust up or down 10 psig.
  6. Low suction/dry run protection​
  7. Lightning & surge protection, low system indication, short cycling protection, water hammer protection.

Electrovarem Models

120V/16 amp – with gauge – without electrical leads – EV003763PL16M000

240V/16 amp – with gauge – without electrical leads – EV003763PL26M000

Resources

Yaskawa IQ Pump VFD

During my 30 years around pump systems, I've seen variable speed drives go from massive, expensive, and rare, to compact, inexpensive, and common. We all know that technology continues to improve, and with variable speed drives that is certainly true. Cheaper to make the components. Smarter at shaping the electrical waveform. More efficient (yes, drives are less than 100% efficient. Not much.) Improved efficiency means less heat. Less heat means smaller heat sinks and fans, so again less expensive. More memory and processing power in the drive. None of this is specific to Yaskawa IQ Pump. 


What IS unique is Yaskawa's decision to make a drive programmed specifically for pumping. When you aren't trying to please all the people some of the time, you can please some of the people all (or at least, more) of the time, right? Make sense. What can we do when we don't care about controlling fans or conveyors?

We can talk about set points, not "process variables." We can display the discharge pressure in psig. Or feet. Or display GPM, if we want a constant flow rate. A display with as many characters as an operator interface.

We can label the H-O-A switch with the words "Hand," "Off," and "Auto." Not "Mode," "Set," "Stop," "Rev," and "Fwd." 

We can include Run Dry/Low Suction protection WITHOUT A SENSOR. With or without automatic reset.

We have a standard Fill Mode, which every application needs at least once. Per power failure. 

We can use current limits to protect the motor from overloading, and the pump from cavitating. Again, without a separate sensor. No flow detection. Pump alternation. 

We can create a program that not only controls a single drive, but sequences up to 6 pumps together. They communicate via a network, with robust alternation and backup functions.

And each drive can be the main controller. Add an extra pressure sensor and put the drives on separate circuits, and we have full redundancy.

And we have not just a general pumping program, by which I mean a program that is already more specific than something designed for elevators, conveyors, air handlers, etc. But also 5 MORE programs, designed for the most common pumping applications:

  1. Constant Pressure
  2. Sump and Sewage/Pump Down/Level Control
  3. Column-Mounted Vertical Turbine
  4. Geothermal
  5. Submersible Motor, Operator Control
Pump VFD Controller IQPump

Resources

VFD Networking Options

We can offer the networking options most popular with pumping applications, namely:

  1. BACNnet
  2. Lonworks
  3. Johnson Controls Metasys (N2)
  4. Apogee (P1)
  5. DeviceNet
  6. Ethernet/IP
  7. Modbus RTU
  8. PROFIBUS-DP
  9. PROFINET

In addition to the standard Modbus RTU

16 I/O Points

An incredible number of inputs, directly onto each drive:

  • 8 digital inputs
  • 3 analog inputs
  • 3 digital outputs
  • 2 analog outputs

The inputs from one (a pressure sensor, for example) can be shared to other drives. Yes you could use (and tie up) wired connections. But you can also use a simple 5 wire cable and share it on a network.

3 Phase Conversion Built In

We can convert single phase input into three phase output. No more need to hunt for expensive and rare single phase motors!

Benefits of Variable Speed Pumping

That's what is unique about the IQDrive. But let's not forget the other benefits of variable speed pumping:

  1. Better pump performance
  2. Better control
  3. Smoother hydraulics
  4. ​Eliminate PRV maintenance and clogging
  5. Energy savings
  6. Quieter
  7. Longer pump and motor life​​​

Built-In Pump Protection and Displays

Some more benefits of the IQ Drive:

  1. Alarm History
  2. Total Operating Time, Number of Pump Starts, 
  3. Flow display, Flow Totalization
  4. Built-in Pump Fail detection, using current sensing.
  5. Built-in Loss of Prime sensor.
  6. Thrust Bearing Protection, which also protects seals on vertical hollowshaft motors.
  7. Auto-Tune - optimizes the VFD and motor interaction, for maximum system efficiency.
  8. Built-in clock
  9. Built-in 24V Power Supply, to power an alarm horn or other small accessory. Unfortunately, not powerful enough to power most touchscreens.
  10. 100 foot maximum lead length, without requiring energy-sapping filtration

Unsurpassed Energy Savings During Unoccupied Periods

In domestic water booster applications, we know that 50% of the time the demand is almost 0 gpm. Think about it: 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. 5 nights a week, the building isn't occupied. Plus weekends and holidays. And even when a few people are in the building, they don't use that much water. Plumbing isn't like HVAC where a single person in the building requires significant energy expenditures. The energy saving features are the best I've ever seen in the IQ Drive. Some highlights:

  1. Night, Weekend, and 1 more Night Setback feature.
  2. Tank Charge Mode, to maximize off time and energy savings.
  3. Fill/Power Fail Restart Mode
  4. No-Flow Shutdown based on VFD speed, pressure, current, or flow.

The Best Duplex and Triplex (up to 5) Pump Controller Today

In a Duplex or Triplex pumping system, the IQ Drive is also robust enough to replace the PLC. And in some ways, it is superior:

Unsurpassed Redundancy​

It allows for redundancy in 3 critical areas that most pumping systems don't:

  • System Pressure Sensor.
  • Suction Pressure Sensor. Actually, it protects the pumps even without a suction sensor!
  • CONTROLLER. Each drive can serve as the master to others, automatically!

Exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 Requirements

  • Change setpoints when adding or dropping pumps, to comply with the latest requirements ASHRAE 90.1.
  • Auto Restarts for Low Suction, High System, Automatic Alternation
  • Run Time Evener

​​Not sure that a VFD will pay for itself? Click here to learn more about our energy study and value analysis studies.

Electrovarem
IQPump VFD

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