What is a smart pump. Pumps. The principle of operation of circulation pumps with an electronic control system
In the home water supply system, the “brain” of the colloquially called “smart pump” is the RM-5 or RDM-5 electromechanical pressure switch.
Without going into the details of their device, I’ll immediately say what prompted me to creative searches: at the factory settings of the RM-5, the following happened: when the water pressure in my home mains decreased at the moment the pump was turned on, a pressure surge occurred that forced the relay to work and the pump was turned off. Immediately, the springs returned the plate back, the pump turned on again and the process was repeated; the relay started jumping. Especially the flaw was noticeable with a weak water intake. I had to tighten a small spring, as a result of which the pressure in the system dropped to zero, then after 15 seconds the relay worked and the pump turned on. Such a "work schedule" of the pump, of course, did not suit me or my family. Perhaps the problem is that I installed the RM-5 before the hydraulic tank and “caught” all pressure changes in the system well.
Analyzing what was happening, I remembered the available contact pressure gauge EKM-1, more precisely, its West German counterpart TGL.
I will briefly dwell on its work: when the water pressure drops, the pressure gauge needle moves to the left, the movable contact closes with the contact of the lower pressure limit, the KM2 starter turns on, which supplies power to the pump. When the pressure in the system rises to a certain value, the movable contact touches the contact of the upper pressure limit, the KM1 starter is turned on, which, with its normally closed contacts (in the photo - an additional auxiliary contact), breaks the power circuit of the KM2 coil and the pump stops. To prevent possible “jumps”, an VS-33 electromechanical time relay was introduced into the circuit, which turns on together with KM1 and its chain of contacts 12-13-25-26 supplies shunt power to the KM1 coil.
After 10 seconds, the time-dependent contact 25-26 opens and then the circuit operates in normal mode. Capacitor C1 is spark quenching. QF1 is an additional protection device. Instead of VS-33, you can use the RSV-17 electronic relay or a small-sized starter with the PVI-11 attachment. In my version, there were no jumps, but, just in case, I left the relay.
The whole circuit is assembled on a DIN rail, which in my version was placed in a wooden box of suitable dimensions (ideally, use a special plastic or metal shield for this).
The pressure gauge is connected to the water system using two fittings, a strainer and a piece of oxygen hose. Before installation, the insulation resistance of the pressure gauge contacts relative to the case was measured - 10,000 MΩ at 2500V - more than enough for safe operation of the circuit.
I set the lower pressure to 1.45 atm., the highest - 2.75 atm. During operation of the pump, a pressure of 2.0 atm is maintained in the system. Pressure surges disappeared as a class, water flows from a tap like in a city apartment, which was to be proved.
Practical reverse osmosis filters give the owner the opportunity to significantly improve the characteristics and taste of water, regardless of the location of the home and the natural conditions of the area. Thanks to a well-thought-out design, which includes a complex of several cartridges with different fillers, they effectively rid the liquid of mechanical impurities such as clay, peat fibers or grains of sand, eliminate salt deposits of heavy metals, chloride compounds and bacteria, organic substances and foreign odors.
For proper operation of the system, the pressure in the water supply system must not fall below 3 atmospheres. This value does not always reach the desired value - for example, in country houses or on the upper floors it may be somewhat lower. In this case, together with the filters, it will be necessary to install a pump capable of increasing the pressure.
Operating principle
The device works from the mains, connecting to it using an adapter, which can be supplied in the kit or purchased separately. For operation, the device also needs sensors that signal the level of pressure in the system. When its value falls below the required value, the pump turns on and runs until the storage tank is filled with filtered water.
Thus, this easy-to-use device allows you to ensure and maintain the pressure at the proper level, ensuring the smooth operation of the filtration system and the consistently high quality of drinking water in the house.
Advantages
The advantages of pumps for reverse osmosis systems include:
- the ability to increase pressure to a level of about 8 atmospheres;
- ease of installation and use;
- economical consumption of electricity;
- low noise level during operation;
- compact dimensions;
- universal design that allows using one pump for filters of different manufacturers.
Serving the heating system. Water supply is no less (or even more) complicated thing that requires a competent approach. Pumps are of various types - vortex, vibration, centrifugal, and so on, and they serve a variety of purposes - from watering a personal plot to propulsion of a sea vessel (in fact, a water jet is the same water pump). An interesting fact is that the centrifugal pump was invented by our compatriot, Russian military engineer Alexander Alexandrovich Sablukov back in 1838. Moreover, at first he designed a centrifugal fan designed to supply clean air to the mines, and then, specifically for a submarine designed by his friend and colleague Karl Schilder, he developed a similar design that allows you to distill water. So Russia has played an important role in the development of the water collection business. And we will talk about pumps for a very specific purpose - about self-priming pumping units to maintain constant pressure in private homes. It's so nice when you open the tap, and from there water comes out with normal pressure (and, by the way, normal temperature).
Why is pressure weak?
Problems with water pressure are known, it seems, to everyone. But in an apartment building it is relatively difficult to solve them - the pressure depends on the total water intake, as well as on the state of the water supply system. In the private sector, these problems depend only on what the pump costs and how it works. It is clear that there are additional factors - the depth of water, for example, or the number of points where water is supplied (showers, baths, and so on), but in general, all this can be adjusted. Sometimes the pressure of only one of the taps changes - hot or cold. Then the total temperature of the water changes dramatically, and this, as you might guess, is not very pleasant.
There are two main reasons for the change in pressure: - change in inlet pressure; - simultaneous use of several points of water intake. If we talk about city water supply, then in a single house the pressure changes along with the pressure in the entire system. In the morning, when people shower, eat breakfast (and use the sink), and so on, the water pressure is reduced. This is where the right pump with an “intelligent” element is needed, that is, a device that is able to maintain a constant pressure at the inlet, regardless of external factors. Let's look at an example - the Grundfos SCALA2 model.
Constant pressure legend
This pump belongs to the class of so-called "smart" pumps. It is equipped with a built-in sensor that measures the pressure at the outlet of the pump. If the pressure drops below a predetermined level, the pump increases the shaft speed and compensates for the pressure drop so that the pressure remains constant and does not "jump" in the entire system. Simply put, it provides a constant head at a variable flow rate. The user does not notice the differences. It would seem that this is a fairly simple idea, but it is not implemented in all systems. In order for it to work exactly as intended, the pump must be properly installed and, most importantly, configured. Although everything is simple here. It can be installed both indoors and outdoors (but - what is important - the temperature limits of the environment range from 0 ° to 55 ° С), and it can take water from the central city water supply system, and from a reservoir, and from a well up to 8 meters.
The pressure assessment is usually carried out at the point of draw-off farthest from the pump, for example, in some shower on the second floor. When connected, the unit will automatically maintain the pressure at 3 bar, but if the pressure in that same shower is too low, the pressure must be increased by setting the desired value on the control panel. It is with this value that the device compares the pressure determined by the sensor at the outlet, and constantly levels the difference between them by changing the speed of the pump shaft.
Silence should be in the house!
One of the common problems of pumps installed inside the house is noise and vibration during operation. Especially if the pump is installed incorrectly - but we will not consider this option.
In Grundfos SCALA2, the noise level is only 47 dB - it's like a muffled conversation, nothing more. This effect is associated primarily with a competent layout and engine cooling by the pumped liquid. The permanent magnet motor - the heart of the device - is covered with other elements and cools well, and, in addition, the built-in hydraulic tank reduces the number of starts and stops. Plus, the pump is very compact and weighs only 10 kg, which significantly reduces vibration (the unit's body made of aluminum also contributes to the maximum absorption of the latter). And thanks to the protection against dry running (when water disappears in the system for some reason), the system never runs “dry”, which works for the durability of the installation.
Savings on bills
The SCALA2 is powered by a highly efficient permanent magnet motor that is noticeably more efficient than a standard electric motor. Plus, the device has a built-in frequency converter and a “smart” control system as a whole, thanks to which it does not constantly work at maximum power consumption (which in itself is not very high, 0.55 kW), but consumes exactly as much as is needed at a load in each specific moment. On average, SCALA2 will consume only 0.4 kW. Compared to a typical analogue, the SCALA2 pump is about three times more energy efficient.
Finally, the pump is resistant to voltage drops, while characteristics close to nominal will be at voltages from 150 to 300 V. This is especially true for country houses, where voltage drops often disable household appliances.
Summing up, we can highlight those points that you should pay special attention to when choosing a pump. These are: — ease of installation and compactness; — minimum noise and vibration; - the ability to maintain a stable pressure in the system; — reliability and durability; - energy efficiency and resistance to voltage drops. If the pump meets these requirements, it can be taken. In our opinion, Grundfos SCALA2 complies. No wonder we took him as an example. Choose right! 
Applications for Grundfos SCALA2:
- increase in pressure from city highways; — water supply from wells (depth up to 8 m); - water supply from storage tanks (reservoirs); — systems of manual and automatic watering; - pumping clean water from reservoirs.
Specifications:
- ambient temperature - up to 55 °C - temperature of the pumped liquid - up to 45 °C - operating pressure - 10 bar - insulation class - X4D (outdoor installation) - number of storeys of the building - no more than 3 - number of draw-off points - no more than 8 - dimensions: height - 304 mm, length - 403 mm, width - 193 mm - weight (net) - 10 kg
The material was prepared with the participation of company expertsWilo .
The past winter heating period with severe frosts, sudden thaws and frequent transitions through 0 could reveal all the pros and cons in the operation of the heating system of a country house. As a result, depending on the efficiency of the equipment, homeowners either spent the planned funds on heating the cottage, or overpaid and thought about how to reduce costs in the next heating season.
There are several ways to modernize the heating system and thus reduce operating costs in the long run. One of them is to equip the “engineer” with a circulation pump, which flexibly adapts to constantly changing operating conditions. We understand the issue with the help of an engineer from the manufacturer of circulation pumps.
- What are the features of a modern heating system.
- Why do you need a circulation pump with an intelligent control system.
- What is the principle of operation of circulation pumps with an electronic control system based on.
- What is the economic benefit of using a "smart" circulation pump.
Features of a modern heating system of a country house
Depending on the region, the heating period in our country lasts on average 6-7 months. Because energy prices are growing all the time, among the owners of country cottages there is an increasing interest in the construction of energy-efficient houses, i.е. buildings where all energy losses are minimized. Practice shows that with a competent approach to the process of building such a house (based on thermal engineering calculation), the funds spent on its construction are returned in the form of a reduction in the cost of paying for energy carriers.
But often, one important point is overlooked - the construction of an energy-efficient, and therefore economical, house requires the solution of a whole range of tasks. In addition to insulation, installation of a ventilation system with a heat exchanger, in order to minimize costs, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the heating system.
The heating "engineer" of a country cottage includes a wide variety of equipment. These are solid fuel, gas, electric or diesel boilers, floor heating systems or wall-mounted radiators with thermostatic heads, etc. Therefore, the heating system of a country house is equipped with circulation pumps.
A circulation pump is needed to pump the coolant through a long heating circuit (pipelines).
Often, conventional (unregulated) circulation pumps are installed in the heating system, all the time operating at a constant speed or having stepwise adjustment of the coolant pressure in 2-3 ranges.
These pumps may be outdated and have an inefficient motor. This results in significant cost overruns. To avoid this, the heating system can be upgraded by installing a “smart” circulation pump in it.
Benefits of a circulation pump with an intelligent control system
Unregulated heating pumps consume a large amount of electricity, because. during the entire heating period, they constantly operate at maximum mode. While in fact most of the time the heating system operates in partial load mode.
For example, in case of sudden warming (this often happens in the middle of winter), the user lowers the temperature of the coolant and its pressure, because. heating devices do not require increased heat transfer. Also, the heating system does not require maximum efficiency at the beginning and at the end of the heating season, when cool weather has just set in the street, and severe frosts have not yet come. When changing day and night, when leaving home for work during the day, when using thermostatic heads installed on radiators, you can lower the temperature in the rooms and, thereby, save money on heating.
That is, during the entire heating season, the circulation pump requires maximum performance for only a limited period of time. Therefore, the pump must flexibly adapt to constantly changing operating conditions and the personal preferences of the people living in the house.
Anastasia Listopad
Older generation pumps allow you to manually select one of several constant speeds (usually two or three). Often such pumps can operate at maximum speed even if all radiators are blocked. This leads to unreasonably high power consumption.
Modern "smart" circulation pumps are equipped with highly efficient motors with automatic power control. This optimizes the hydraulic parameters of the pump in all modes of operation of the heating system, and especially in partial load modes, which can significantly reduce energy costs.
Additional energy savings are achieved by activating the automatic speed reduction mode and the Dynamic adapt function. This is a function of continuous dynamic adjustment of the operating point in the partial load zone of the pump.
By constantly adapting the pump's duty point, as well as the automatic venting function, the use of electronic pumps makes it possible to avoid system noise, which is especially important in residential areas.
The principle of operation of circulation pumps with an electronic control system
As mentioned above, in our climatic zone there are significant fluctuations in ambient temperature. Regardless of weather conditions, the user is required to ensure a constant comfortable air temperature in living quarters.
At low temperatures, as a rule, all radiators are open, and maximum coolant supply is required. With an increase in temperature outside, part of the radiators is covered - a smaller amount of coolant passes through the system.
Naturally, the selection of the device must be carried out by measuring your needs, the data of the well from which you will pump water and the technical characteristics of the equipment itself.
But even without any measurements, you can immediately select the type of device and the manufacturer. As for the manufacturer, we advise you to choose one of the most popular and reliable brands.
What are the benefits of purchasing a smart well pump?
It must be said right away that the price for a smart pump for a well will be higher than for standard designs. But on the other hand, he will serve you at the highest level.
The pump has special impellers that regulate the level of water consumption. As the water intake increases, additional steps are included, which provide a more powerful water pressure. There can be up to seven such steps, that is, the most expensive and high-quality smart pump is able to regulate the pumping of water at seven speeds. But this is not its only advantage.
The prices for smart pumps for a well are also higher because the designs provide protection against idling of the pump - an emergency mode in which the pumped water runs out. The presence of a special protective system allows you to turn off the pump in a matter of seconds.
What factors should be considered when choosing a technique?
Well diameter. Borehole pumps pump water from a sufficient depth and at the same time they themselves are of small diameter. To install smart well pumps, wells of small diameter are usually drilled, which should not be much larger than the diameter of the pump.
Well debit. This is a parameter that shows how much water can be extracted from a well in a certain period of time (usually data is taken for one hour).
Static and dynamic water levels. They, like the debit of the well, must be indicated in the passport data. But you can make all the necessary measurements yourself.