Variable speed system for wastewater pumps

KSB, a German pump manufacturer, is introducing the PumpDrive variable speed system and its three new functions, which have been especially created for operating wastewater pumps.

For a complete water column to be established during start-up, PumpDrive ramps the pump up to maximum speed within four seconds.

The speed is maintained for three minutes so that an appropriate flow passes through all piping elements before the system starts its controlled, demand-driven operation.

This operation ensures that the discharge line and pump casing are completely primed with the fluid to be handled.

The system is now also capable of flushing, which can be activated either automatically or manually by the service personnel using a control panel.

The PID controller increases the speed up to a maximum value, which triggers the required flushing effect with the current control task being temporarily put on hold for this process.

After the defined flushing period, the flushing function stops and the system returns to its previous, controlled operation.

Flow velocity monitoring is another new feature to the system that ensures that the minimum flow velocities specified at the time of selection are met in order to keep the pipes free from deposits.

If the flow velocity falls below the programmed minimum, PumpDrive can either transmit a fault message to the control station or start the flushing function to remove any deposits from the piping.

The flow velocity is computed by the variable speed system based on measured electric values of the drive.

The function requires no external sensors, which increases operating reliability.

Up to six PumpDrives can be combined into a controlling unit via plug-in bus lines, which allows the user to operate six pumps in parallel.

Such a unit starts and stops the pump sets in line with demand while ensuring that the operating load is distributed evenly.

It compensates the failure of individual components without interrupting the operation.

All PumpDrives for motors with ratings up to 55kW have a harmonised design.

KSB will be presenting the improved PumpDrive system at the IFAT 2016 expo in Munich.