November WWJ

Column: Eng Your Business

File Name: WWJ-38 Control Valves Part 2
Engineering Your Business
Control Valves vs. Variable Freuen!" #rives: $%e Fa!ts & Falla!ies
Part 2. 'oo(ing at !on!erns relevant to VF#s) an* *etermining +%i!% s"stem is best
B" E* Butts
,n last mont%-s !olumn +e began our loo( at t%e !ontrovers" involving t%e use o. variable
.reuen!" *rives /VF#s) also (no+n as inverters0) !ontrol valves) an* %"*ro-1neumati!
1ressure tan(s .or 1ressure regulation o. a +ater s"stem. We intro*u!e* t%e basi! o1erational
!on!e1t o. !ontrol valves an* 1ressure tan(s) an* outline* t%e re!ommen*e* gui*elines an*
1ossible 1it.alls asso!iate* +it% t%e use o. t%ese valves an* tan(s.
$%is mont%-s !olumn +ill +ra1 u1 t%is to1i! b" e2amining t%e !on!erns relevant to VF#s an*
m" o1inion) .or +%at it-s +ort%) as to +%i!% s"stem is best.
Variable Frequency Drives -- Just What Are They?
3lt%oug% variable s1ee* *rive s"stems are !om1rise* o. various met%o*s o. s1ee* regulation
/4ee 5Variable 41ee* #rives 6 3n ,*ea W%ose $ime 7as Come to You) $oo)8 Engineering
Your Business9:ar!% 2;;2 Water Well Journal0) .or t%e 1ur1oses o. t%is arti!le +e s%all
limit our *is!ussion to ele!troni! variable .reuen!" *rives onl".
4ometimes) te!%nolog" a*van!es .aster t%an our abilit" to un*erstan* t%e limitations o. t%e
ne+ *evi!es +e are given) as +ell as t%e 1ossible im1a!t .rom t%e +rong a11li!ation. $%is is
o.ten t%e !ase +%en a11l"ing VF#s) es1e!iall" +it% +ell 1um1s.
$%e !urrent 1o1ularit" o. VF#s) es1e!iall" t%e 1ulse-+i*t% mo*ulate* t"1e) is *ue to t%e
.ollo+ing a*vantages:
$%e abilit" to 1re!isel" !ontrol motor s1ee*) an* t%ere.ore 1ressure<
7ig% ele!tri!al e..i!ien!"<
=easonabl" eas" installation an* set-u1 reuirements< an*
'o+ere* !ost in re!ent "ears.
Be.ore +e >um1 into t%e 1rin!i1le o. VF#s) it is 1ru*ent to *is!uss some basi! !on!e1ts o.
ele!tri! motors .irst.
$%e most !ommon t"1e o. ele!tri! motor use* .or +ater 1um1ing s"stems is t%e in*u!tion
motor. 3n in*u!tion motor-s rotative s1ee* is *e1en*ent on t+o 1rimar" .a!tors: t%e number o.
1oles +it%in t%e motor) an* t%e a11lie* ele!tri!al .reuen!" to t%e motor.
Poles re.er to t%e magneti! 1oles--su!% as Nort% an* 4out%--insi*e t%e motor t%at !ause
rotation o. t%e motor) *ue to a !onstantl" !%anging magneti! .iel*. 3 motor +it% t+o 1oles is
*esigne* to o1erate at 3?;; r1m) .our 1oles at @8;; r1m) an* ? 1oles at @2;; r1m.
4in!e t%e amount o. 1oles insi*e a motor is a .i2e* !om1onent) t%e onl" !%ara!teristi! available
to var" a motor-s s1ee* is t%e a11lie* ele!tri!al .reuen!". $%e .reuen!" o. an ele!tri!al
s"stem re.ers to t%e amount o. !"!les o. var"ing values o. voltage an alternating !urrent /3C0
sour!e o. 1o+er ma(es in a se!on*. $%e %ig%er t%e amount o. .reuen!") t%e .aster an
in*u!tion motor +ill rotate. ,n t%e Anite* 4tates) 3C 1o+er is *istribute* at ?; 7ertB) or !"!les
1er se!on*. /=e.er to 5$%ree-P%ase Po+er)8 Engineering Your Business) Januar" 2;;3 Water
Well Journal .or a more !om1lete e21lanation o. 3C 1o+er.0
$%e .un*amental 1rin!i1le be%in* t%e o1eration o. VF#s is base* on !onversion an* var"ing o.
t%is voltage an* .reuen!" to t%e motor. ,n a soli* state VF# /Figure @0) in!oming voltage
/t"1i!all" t%ree-1%ase 3C 1o+er0 is !onverte* /inverte*0 .rom 3C to #C) an* t%en ba!( to
var"ing s"nt%esiBe* values o. 3C voltage t%at ultimatel" su11lies t%e motor. $%is voltage is
a11lie* to t%e motor in a simulate* sine +ave 1attern *elivere* in ver" s%ort 1ulses in ra1i*
su!!ession) sometimes u1 to 2;);;; 1ulses 1er se!on*.
$%ere are t+o basi! t"1es o. VF#s: !onstant torue an* variable torue.
Constant torue units are use* to *rive !onve"or belts) 1resses) an* ot%er units +%ere t%e
%orse1o+er reuirement *oes not ne!essaril" var" +it% t%e s1ee*. ,n !onstant torue
a11li!ations) t%e loa*) an* t%ere.ore t%e %orse1o+er) +ill not usuall" *e!rease substantiall" at
lo+er s1ee*s. For t%ese a11li!ations) VF#s are 1rimaril" bene.i!ial .or t%e abilit" to 1re!isel"
var" an* !ontrol t%e s1ee* o. a 1ro!ess an* not .or energ" savings.
Variable torue units are use* to *rive loa*s su!% as .ans an* 1um1s +%ere t%e %orse1o+er
*eman* +ill var" in *ire!t 1ro1ortion to t%e s1ee*. 4in!e t%e rea*ers o. t%is !olumn are
1rimaril" !on!erne* +it% t%e a11li!ation o. VF#s to +ater 1um1s) +e +ill limit our *is!ussion
to variable torue *rives onl".
Pum1s are uniue but 1re*i!table *evi!es in +%i!% a .un*amental series o. 1%"si!al la+s
a11l". $%ese la+s) (no+n as t%e a..init" la+s) state t%at t%e !a1a!it" o. a 1um1 +ill var"
*ire!tl" +it% t%e s1ee*) t%e %ea* +ill var" +it% t%e suare o. t%e s1ee*) an* t%e %orse1o+er
*ra+ +ill var" +it% t%e !ube o. t%e s1ee*. $%e a..init" la+s are +%at +e *e1en* u1on to ma(e
t%e use o. a VF# +or( so +ell +it% 1um1s.
For e2am1le) assume a 1um1Cmotor !ombination o1erating on an ele!tri!al s"stem at ?; 7ertB)
at a motor s1ee* o. 3?;; r1m) !a1able o. @;; g1m D 2;; .eet o. %ea* +it% a bra(e %orse1o+er
reuirement o. E.F %1. ,. t%e s1ee* is lo+ere* to 2F;; r1m /?G.H 1er!ent o. t%e original s1ee*)
+%i!% !orres1on*s to a !%ange o. .reuen!" .rom ?; 7ertB to H@.?H 7ertB0) t%e ne+ !on*itions
.or t%is unit +ill be as .ollo+s:

2F;; r1m
=evise* Flo+ =ate I 3?;; r1m I .?GH 2 @;; g1m I ?G.H g1m

2
J2F;; r1mK
=evise* 7ea* I J3?;; r1mK I .?GH 2 .?GH I .H8@ 2 2;;- I G?.2- o. 7ea*
3
J2F;; r1mK
=evise* 7orse1o+er I J3?;; r1mK I .?GH 2 .?GH 2 .?GH I .33H 2 E.F I 2.F B7P
From t%is e2am1le) it s%oul* be .airl" obvious t%at a relativel" small !%ange in 1um1 s1ee* !an
result in a signi.i!ant *ro1 in %orse1o+er. 3s s%o+n %ere) a *ro1 in motor s1ee* o. 3; 1er!ent
results in a !orres1on*ing *ro1 in %orse1o+er o. ?E 1er!ent.
Variable .reuen!" *rives are ver" use.ul in t%at t%e" not onl" !%ange .lo+ an* %ea* in
a!!or*an!e +it% t%e a..init" la+s) but t%e" also retain t%e 1um1-s !%ara!teristi! 1er.orman!e
!urve s%a1e. $%is 1rovi*es great rangeabilit" an* t%ere.ore an" .lo+C%ea* !ombination +it%in
t%e s1ee* envelo1e !an usuall" be attaine*.
Contrar" to mu!% o. t%e !urrent %"1e !ir!ulate* b" sales 1ersonnel) a VF# +ill usuall"
1er.orm its .ull energ" !onserving .un!tions onl" +%en a*euate s1ee* re*u!tion is 1ossible
an* t%e 1um1 %as a +i*e ban* o. relativel" %ig% e..i!ien!". $%is is t%e 1rimar" reason t%at
VF#s are generall" most e..e!tive +it% 1um1s t%at e2%ibit a stee1er o1erating !urve t%an t%ose
+it% a relativel" 5.lat8 !urve) alt%oug% t%e" !an be use* su!!ess.ull" +it% eit%er t"1e.
Ase o. VF#s) %o+ever) is not limite* to >ust energ" !onserving a11li!ations. Variable
.reuen!" *rives are also use* to regulate an* stabiliBe .lo+ an*Cor 1ressure) regar*less o. t%eir
im1a!t on energ" !onsum1tion< t%e" are use* to !ontrol 1ressure surges !ause* b" t%e starting
an* sto11ing o. 1um1s) an* are also sometimes use* as 5so.t starters8 to limit t%e %ig% inrus%
!urrents asso!iate* +it% t%e starting o. ele!tri! motors /alt%oug% t%ere are s1e!i.i! ele!troni!
*evi!es alrea*" available .or t%is a11li!ation t%at are less e21ensive an* !om1li!ate* t%an
VF#s0.
Certainl") variable .reuen!" *rives are not .or ever" a11li!ation nor are t%e" more *esirable
t%an !ontrol valves or 1ressure tan(s in man" a11li!ations. $%e .ollo+ing list !om1rises t%e
most relevant !on!erns +%en a11l"ing VF#s to 1um1 s"stems.
Variable Frequency Drives -- Limitations and Design Pitalls
Variable .reuen!" *rives /VF#s0) as is t%e !ase +it% !ontrol valves) also %ave limitations in
t%eir a11li!ation an* o1eration an* must) as +it% !ontrol valves) be a11lie* in s"stems +%ere
t%eir uniue .eatures !an be use* to t%e .ull 1otential.
$%e .ollo+ing limitations s%oul* be !onsi*ere* +%en evaluating t%e 1ossible use o. a VF#:
@. VF#s are e2!ellent energ" !onserving *evi!es +%en 1ro1erl" a11lie* +it% variable
torue s"stems t%at a*%ere to t%e a..init" la+s) su!% as .ans an* 1um1s. 7o+ever) t%e"
also are limite* in t%eir e..e!tiveness an* sub>e!t to e2treme variation in out1ut voltage
an* .reuen!" +%en misa11lie* an* use* in s"stems +it% a 5.lat8 t"1e o. o1erating
!urve an*Cor a ver" limite* %ig%er e..i!ien!" range +in*o+. For o1timum
e..e!tiveness) ea!% in*ivi*ual a11li!ation s%oul* be .ull" anal"Be* t%roug%out t%e
e21e!te* .lo+ range to ensure an a*euate 1er!entage o. s1ee* re*u!tion bet+een
ma2imum an* minimum .lo+s +ill o!!ur to 1rovi*e t%e e21e!te* energ" !onservation.
3lso) al+a"s remember t%at t%e a..init" la+s a11l" >ust as mu!% in elevating s1ee*s as
t%e" *o +%en *e!reasing s1ee*. 3n in!rease o. onl" @; 1er!ent in .reuen!" /?; 7ertB.
to ?? 7ertB0 +ill result in @; 1er!ent %ig%er .lo+) 2@ 1er!ent %ig%er %ea*) an* 33
1er!ent %ig%er %orse1o+er) +%i!% is !onsi*erabl" %ig%er t%an t%e t"1i!al @F 1er!ent o.
allo+able %orse1o+er overloa* .or most motors. For t%is reason) t%e *esigner must
ensure t%at t%e ma2imum s1ee* is limite* to 1revent an e2treme overloa* an*
subseuent .ailure o. t%e motor.
2. :an" +ater s"stems) es1e!iall" *ee1 +ell s"stems) reuire a .i2e* amount o. minimum
o1erating %ea* nee*e* to sim1l" elevate t%e +ater to t%e sur.a!e. $%is minimum %ea*)
+%i!% +e o.ten re.er to as stati! li.t or %ea*) re.le!ts t%e minimum reuire* %ea* an*
resultant minimum 1um1 s1ee* t%at must be 1rogramme* into t%e VF# to ensure
*eliver" o. +ater to t%e sur.a!e. $%is value o. minimum s1ee* varies .rom +ell to +ell
an* !an also var" signi.i!antl" in an" single +ell *ue to t%e *i..eren!e bet+een stati!
an* ma2imum 1um1ing levels.
,. a VF# is allo+e* to *ro1 motor /an* 1um10 s1ee* belo+ t%is minimum setting) t%e
1um1 +ill not be able to generate t%e reuire* %ea* nee*e* to get t%e +ater to t%e
sur.a!e) resulting in a 5s%uto..8 .lo+ !on*ition t%at +ill ra1i*l" lea* to unit .ailure. ,.
t%is minimum !on*ition !om1rises a ma>orit" o. t%e total %ea*) t%e allo+able re*u!tion
o. s1ee* +ill o.ten not be su..i!ient to >usti." t%e e21ense o. a VF#. 3 minimum s1ee*
is also reuire* to ensure a*euate !ooling o. t%e motor an* lubri!ation +ill al+a"s
o!!ur) regar*less o. t%e loa*. $%is is es1e!iall" im1ortant .or .an-!oole*) oil-lubri!ate*
motors an* submersible motors. $%is situation must be !onsi*ere* on a !ase-b"-!ase
basis an* its im1ortan!e !annot be overloo(e*.
3. Be!ause VF#s !%ange voltage .rom 3C to #C an* ba!( to 3C) t%ere is o.ten *istortion
o. t%e in!oming 1o+er su11l". $%is *istortion) (no+n as %armoni!s) !an a..e!t
neig%boring 1o+er !ustomers) resulting in lig%t .li!(er) ra*io an* television noise an*
1i!ture *istortion) an* *amage to ot%er ele!tri!al *evi!es. ,nstallations t%at reuire long
lengt%s /e.g.) more t%an 2;; .eet0 o. !able bet+een t%e VF# an* motor) su!% as
submersible motors) are es1e!iall" vulnerable to ele!tri!al noise an* 1ossible motor
*amage *ue to a !on*ition (no+n as re.le!te* +ave voltage. W%en t%is o!!urs) t%e
voltages !an buil* to *angerousl" %ig% values be!ause o. t%e e..e!t o. t%e inverter 1ulse
re.le!ting .rom t%e motor ba!( to t%e VF# -- similar to t%e e..e!t o. an o!ean +ave. ,n
long *istan!es) a H?; volt out1ut !an buil* an* e2!ee* 2;;; volts at t%e motor
terminals. $%ese a11li!ations are 1arti!ularl" sus!e1tible to o1erational 1roblems an*
1remature .ailure an* must be !are.ull" !onsi*ere*.
,n a**ition to %armoni!s) motors o1erate* +it% VF#s are mu!% more sus!e1tible to
au*ible noise 1roblems. $%is 1roblem !an result in !om1laints .rom nearb" resi*ents
an* ot%er ele!tri!al users an* ma" reuire t%e use o. s1e!ialiBe* .ilters an*Cor ot%er
met%o*s to !ontrol an" severe noise issues. Pro1er groun*ing o. t%e motor an* VF#
unit is !riti!al to 1revent noise 1roblems an* stra" voltage. Failures o. VF# units or
motors o.ten o!!ur sim1l" be!ause t%e *evi!es are at *i..erent groun* 1otentials. 3gain)
it is !riti!al t%at all *evi!es be at t%e same groun* 1otential an* tie* into a true eart%
groun*. Various met%o*s) su!% as line rea!tors an* .ilters) e2ist to !ontrol an* limit
ele!tri!al %armoni!s. 7o+ever) ea!% VF# installation must be evaluate* in*ivi*uall"
be.ore using an" o. t%ese met%o*s.
H. 3s in*i!ate* above) use o. VF#s +it% submersible motors must be !are.ull" 1er.orme*.
4ubmersible motors %ave minimum allo+e* s1ee*s nee*e* to 1rovi*e a*euate bearing
lubri!ation an* t%is minimum s1ee* must al+a"s be observe*. ,n a**ition) submersible
motors *e1en* on +ater traveling 1ast t%e motor to 1rovi*e a*euate !ooling. 'o+ere*
motor s1ee*s +ill result in lo+ering o. t%e motor %orse1o+er< %o+ever) t%e minimum
reuire* .lo+ rate must al+a"s be observe*. Finall") ea!% motor manu.a!turer %as
se1arate reuirements an* gui*elines +%en a11l"ing VF#s to its motors) su!% as
minimum an* ma2imum .reuen!") as +ell as allo+able t"1es o. VF#. $%ese s%oul*
be .ull" !onsi*ere* an* all gui*elines a11lie* be.ore installation o. t%e motor.
F. Ever" 1um1 an* motor unit) regar*less o. t"1e) %as a range o. s1ee*s or an in*ivi*ual
s1ee* t%at ma" !ause e2treme vibration o. t%e unit to o!!ur +%en allo+e* to o1erate
!ontinuousl". $%is s1ee* is te!%ni!all" (no+n as t%e !riti!al s1ee* an* is usuall" .oun*
at values lo+er an* %ig%er t%an t%e name1late motor s1ee*. $%e *esigner o. a VF#
s"stem must re!ogniBe an* veri." t%is 1otential an* ensure t%at t%e unit +ill not o1erate
!ontinuousl" at an" !riti!al s1ee* or +it%in an" !riti!al s1ee* range. :ost !urrent
1ro*u!tion VF# units %ave t%e abilit" to be 1rogramme* to 1revent !ontinuous
o1eration +it%in t%ese s1ee* Bones.
?. Be!ause VF#s *istort t%e in!oming voltage t%at results in a mo*i.ie* voltage an*
.reuen!") o1eration +it% a motor +it% a stan*ar* insulation s"stem) a 1remium /%ig%
e..i!ien!"0 e..i!ien!") or an ol*er motor +it% a +ea(ene* insulation s"stem !an !ause
a**itional %eating in t%e motor) +%i!%) i. not 1ro1erl" *issi1ate*) !an result in
1remature .ailure o. t%e motor. Provisions must be ma*e to assure a*euate !ooling o.
all motors. $%is is es1e!iall" true o. submersible motors.
,n res1onse to t%e re!ent 1o1ularit" o. VF#s) man" motor manu.a!turers are no+
1rovi*ing motors es1e!iall" *esigne* .or use +it% VF#s. $%ese motors %ave greater
!ooling !a1a!it") %eavier insulation s"stems) an* are *esigne* s1e!i.i!all" to o1erate
+it% VF#s. 3lt%oug% not generall" a .a!tor o. ma>or !on!ern +it% 1um1s) t%e *esigner
must also veri." t%at t%e motor t%at +ill be use* +it% a VF# %as a*euate torue
t%roug%out its e21e!te* s1ee* range so t%e unit +ill not stall at lo+er s1ee*s. $%is is
es1e!iall" im1ortant +it% multi-stage 1um1s) su!% as submersibles) an* 1um1s +it%
large *iameter im1ellers.
E. 3s +it% most ele!troni! *evi!es) %eat is t%e (iller o. VF#s. $%e *esigner must ensure
t%at a*euate means e2ist to trans.er t%e %eat generate* b" t%e VF# to outsi*e t%e
en!losure. Ln larger units) t%e use o. au2iliar" .ans is reuire* to move t%is %eat a+a"
.rom t%e VF#.
8. $%e %ig% .reuen!ies in t%e s+it!%ing o. voltages an* transient s1i(es are in*u!e*
into t%e motor rotor an* buil* u1 a voltage 1otential bet+een t%e rotor an* stator. $%is
voltage is o.ten *issi1ate* b" ar!ing t%roug% t%e motor-s ball bearings. $%is !ontinuous
5mini lig%tning storm8 +it%in t%e bearings !an !ause 1remature .ailure o. t%e bearings
unless 1rovisions are ma*e to 1revent t%is o!!urren!e. Ne+er motors *esigne* .or VF#
o1eration %ave built-in 1rote!tion) an* retro.it (its are available .or man" ol*er motors.
G. Contrar" to !ommon mis!on!e1tion) t%e most 1o1ular t"1e o. VF# use* to*a") t%e
Pulse-Wi*t%-:o*ulate* /Figure 20 met%o* o. 3C motor variable .reuen!" *rive t%at
use a !onstant volts 1er %ertB ratio) is %ig% in ele!tri!al e..i!ien!" /u1 to G8 1er!ent0 an*
no 1o+er .a!tor 1enalt" is im1ose* +%en using t%is t"1e o. *rive. $%ese are >ust a .e+
o. t%e reasons t%at t%e PW: t"1e o. VF# is !urrentl" t%e most 1o1ular an* .reuentl"
use* met%o* o. variable s1ee* *rive.
@;. Variable .reuen!" *rives are o.ten rate* .or voltage an* am1erage) an* not .or
%orse1o+er. $%e *esigner must ensure t%at t%e unit %as an a*euate am1erage rating to
a!!ommo*ate t%e largest e21e!te* motor !urrent) es1e!iall" i. "ou-re 1lanning to run
t%e motor at s1ee*s or .reuen!ies %ig%er t%an t%e s1e!i.ie* name1late !on*ition.
@@. W%en t%e a11li!ation !alls .or a !onsi*erable amount o. o1eration at .ull s1ee*
!on*itions) !onsi*eration s%oul* be given to a**ing a b"1ass .ull voltage !onta!tor to
t%e VF#. $%is !an substantiall" lessen t%e o1erational %ours an* lengt%en t%e li.e o. t%e
VF# unit. ,. t%e motor is 1lanne* to o1erate on t%e VF# at all servi!e !on*itions) t%e
motor s%oul* be *erate* at .ull loa* bet+een 3 1er!ent an* @; 1er!ent to 1revent
over%eating. ,n ot%er +or*s) t%e ma2imum loa* on a F; %1 motor at .ull s1ee* s%oul*
be HF to H8 %1.
@2. 3s an ele!troni! *evi!e) a VF# !an be 1arti!ularl" sus!e1tible to a %ig% voltage or
lig%tning stri(e. 3*euate 1rovisions to 1rote!t t%e unit .rom t%ese surges s%oul*
al+a"s be 1rovi*e*. $%is !an o.ten be in t%e .orm o. rea!tors) .ilters) trans.ormers) or
.uses.
@3. 3lt%oug% use o. a VF# !an eliminate t%e nee* .or various siBes o. ot%er 1um1s in an
a11li!ation +it% var"ing .lo+ *eman*s) a *esigner must o.ten resist t%e im1ulse to
arbitraril" use onl" one 1um1 +%ere t+o to t%ree smaller 1um1s along +it% t%e VF#
unit +ill 1rovi*e a better s"stem. Be"on* t%e obvious a*vantage o. re*un*an!") smaller
.i2e* s1ee* units +ill o.ten 1rovi*e smoot%er s"stem o1eration as +ell as lessene* .ull-
time *eman* on a single VF# unit +%i!% +ill e2ten* t%e servi!e li.e !onsi*erabl".
$%e above list ma" seem long) but it re1resents t%e most im1ortant .a!tors t%at s%oul* be
!onsi*ere* +%en a11l"ing a VF# to a +ater 1um1ing s"stem. Lbviousl") not all o. t%e .a!tors
+ill a11l" to ever" given situation) an* some a**itional .a!tors not liste* ma" also nee*
!onsi*eration.
$%e 1rimar" ob>e!tive s%oul* be to ma(e sure t%at all relevant .a!tors %ave been !onsi*ere*
an*) i. ne!essar") *ealt +it% in t%e *esign. $%e investment o. a VF# is sim1l" too great -- bot%
in .inan!ial an* o1erational .a!tors 6 to ma(e an* ignore all im1ortant *esign variables.
!o" Which is #est?
, realiBe t%at t%ese t+o last !olumns %ave been lengt%"< %o+ever) t%is sub>e!t is so !om1li!ate*
an* involve* t%at , trul" nee*e* all o. t%e s1a!e to a*euatel" !over most o. it.
B" no+) "our %ea* is 1robabl" s1inning +it% all o. t%e 1it.alls asso!iate* +it% t%e use o.
!ontrol valves) variable .reuen!" *rives) or 1ressure tan(s. $%e 1rimar" 1oint , %o1e* to ma(e
in t%ese last t+o !olumns is to in.orm t%ose res1onsible .or t%e a11li!ation an* *esign o.
1ressure regulating s"stems o. t%e basi! elements an* !on!erns t%at s%oul* be !onsi*ere*.
4o) +%i!% met%o* is bestM Well) in m" %umble o1inion) as , in*i!ate* in last mont%-s !olumn) ,
sin!erel" believe t%at a stan*ar* *ia1%ragm t"1e o. 1ressure tan() +%en use* +it% a %ig%
ualit" 1ressure s+it!%) is t%e most reliable an* !ost e..e!tive met%o* o. +ater s"stem !ontrol
.or most s"stems u1 to @;; g1m.
For s"stems larger t%an @;; g1m) t%e *esigner must ta(e a !are.ul loo( at t%e true variation o.
.lo+ along +it% t%e e21e!te* time 1erio* o. lo+er .lo+s. Asing a !ontrol valve or VF# .or a
s"stem t%at +ill not o1erate at .lo+s less t%an a11ro2imatel" EF 1er!ent o. t%e nominal *esign
.lo+ .or an" a11re!iable time +ill usuall" result in a +aste o. t%e !ustomer-s mone" an* o.ten)
%is or %er goo* +ill. , %ave al+a"s been an engineer t%at %as trie* to !om1l" +it% t%e 5N,448
rule /Nee1 ,t 4im1le) 4tu1i*0. Oenerall") t%e less !om1li!ate* an* involve* t%e *esign) t%e less
1roblems "ou +ill %ave +it% it t%roug% its o1erational li.e.
Wit% t%is sai*) t%ere +ill obviousl" be 1la!es +%ere "ou +ill .eel t%at a !ontrol valve or VF#
+ill be t%e best overall o1tion .or a !ustomer. W%en t%is time !omes along) 1lease remember
one last re!ommen*ation: 311li!ation o. a !ontrol valve or a VF# must) , re1eat must) be
1er.orme* +it% .ull !onsi*eration o. t%e entire s"stem) in!lu*ing t%e t"1e o. 1um1 an* motor)
1um1 !urve) minimum an* ma2imum .lo+s) true s"stem *eman*s) .uture availabilit" o.
servi!e an* re1air 1arts) an* allo+able 1ressure variation. 3n" less t%an t%is an* "ou %ave set
"oursel. u1 .or a 1ossible .ailure) or) at t%e ver" least) ma"be an un%a11" !ustomer some+%ere
*o+n t%e roa*.
3s +it% most engineering *e!isions) t%e 1re.eren!e an* e21erien!e o. t%e *esigner is o.ten t%e
1rimar" .a!tor in an" s"stem *esign. $o summariBe) m" main 1oint is t%is: *on-t let a*vertising
%"1e an* 1romises o. gran*iose energ" savings an* smoot%er 1um1 o1eration allo+ "ou to
.orget "our 1rimar" res1onsibilit" to "our !ustomer.
Consi*er all o. t%e .a!tors , %ave outline* above) as +ell as an" lo!al or regional ot%er .a!tors
t%at ma" a11l" /su!% as energ" !osts an* e21e!te* %ours o. o1eration0. 3s( uestions an* *o
some resear!% i. ne!essar") use "our e21erien!e an* best >u*gment) an* ma(e sure t%at +%at
"ou .inall" install is +%at "ou .eel +ill be best .or "our !ustomer) to*a" an* tomorro+.
Antil ne2t mont%) +or( sa.e an* smart.