VFD Booster Pumps: The What, Why, and How

October 21st, 2022

You may have heard of a domestic water booster pump and how it provides water pressure to move water from a storage tank to an entire facility. You may also know that a water pressure pump is commonly used in multi-story complexes, hotels, and apartments that often face challenges when it comes to achieving desired water pressure.

But have you ever heard of variable frequency drives (VFD) and how they can help you adjust the water flow or pressure to your actual demand? Read on to learn more.
 

What are VFD Booster Pumps?

VFDs or variable frequency drives add pressure to a building when the main water pressure is not sufficient. Their role is to control the frequency of the electrical power supplied to pumps. Without causing damage to the pump’s motor, VFDs can start or stop over and over again, allowing the motor to gradually ramp up to meet the actual flow demand within the capabilities of the pump.

They are installed with a water pressure booster pump to help it increase low water pressure and flow. This is done by providing an extra boost to bring your water pressure to the desired level. These VFDs are easy to install and provide automatic shutoff if no water is available, eliminating one major cause of pump breakdown or burnout.
 

Why do You Need a VFD Booster Pump?

You may need a water pressure booster pump to supply adequate pressure to terminal units like showers and bathrooms. Here, you will have to properly size it to maintain the design pressure while experiencing the maximum expected flow at the lowest suction pressure. You can use a pressure control valve to balance the system and maintain the desired pressure.

As the flow rate decreases or suction pressure varies, it can help you avoid over-pressurization and control problems. On the other hand, a VFD booster pump is great for instances where the flow requirements vary significantly. It will allow you to stage additional pumps on or off to maintain the desired pressure, which eliminates the need to have a control valve.
 

How VFD Booster Pumps Can Benefit Your Building

VFDs are added to pressure booster pumps as an alternative to using pressure control valves. They can help you achieve significant power savings and eliminate the booster pump’s cost and maintenance, which can amount to 20% or more. They are great if you want your motor to gradually ramp up to meet the actual demand within the pump’s performance capabilities.
 

Maintenance Tips for VFD Booster Pumps

There are a few important things to keep in mind to make VFD booster pumps operate without any hassle. For instance, enclosure seals must be examined regularly and replaced as soon as any damage is diagnosed. You may wonder that original manufacturer seals are expensive, but failure to replace damaged seals can lead to losses that cost more than the cost of the seal. Other tips include:

• Keep Your VFD Cool
  Apart from dust on your VFD, which can cause airflow restrictions, you also need to check all your circulating fans for signs of bearing failure/foreign objects. This will usually be indicated by unusual noises or shafts that seem wobbly. Check heat sink temperatures on a regular basis. Any increase in the temperature of more than 3 to 5°C should be investigated.

• Keep it Dry
  The presence of moisture can result in VFD circuit board corrosion, which can condemn the pump to failure or erratic operation. Therefore, during the early design stages, make sure that the VFD room is well located. Also, the drive is maintained in a dry area where moisture is not an issue.

• Keep VFD Connections Tight
  Heat cycles and mechanical vibrations are the reason why loose connections occur. Poor connections can eventually lead to arcing, which may result in erratic operation. Consequently, this causes machine damage or even personnel injury. Here, another contributing factor is the re-tightening of an already tight connection that can ruin the connection. You can avoid this by using an infrared thermometer or infrared camera, which will help you identify hot connections. Keep in mind that when connections have become loose, they should be re-tightened.
   

  In Conclusion

   

  Manufacturers of your VFD water booster pumps may offer an extraordinary level of reliability and guidance, which can be compromised if you neglect to embrace a lifecycle approach. So, keep these points in mind. For more info regarding VFDs and water pressure booster pumps, get in touch with experts at Callaghan Pump.