VACON’s 100 FLOW AC drive is specifically designed to help improve flow control for multi-pump applications in which several pumps are used in place of a single one. By spreading the load across several pumps, it is lightened and provides greater energy efficiency and system redundancy. The VACON 100 FLOOW offers control of flow and pressure for a maximum of eight pumps (or fans), without the need for an external controller; communication between drives is provided by integrated RS-485. It is also equipped with built-in Ethernet to eliminate additional options or gateways needed to communicate with process automation.
Three multi-pump control solutions are offered: single-drive multi-pump, multi-drive multi-master and multi-drive multi-follower. One AC drive controls a lead pump for single-drive installations and in multi-master mode, each pump is controlled by its own AC drive. Additional fixed-speed pumps can be brought online directly or with a soft starter if demand exceeds the capabilities of the pump. Users can choose between fixed setups and solutions for the lead and auxiliary pumps to alternate roles and equalize wear and tear.