Using speed variation for pumps

Industrial, commercial and municipal engineering facilities use many types of rotating equipment. Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy used in certain industrial facilities.

This paper describes opportunities to reduce energy consumption and possibly improve performance and reliability along with reducing lifecycle costs when pump flow is controlled with variable speed drives. It focuses on the advantages this method can have for mineral processing facilities, where variable speed drives can optimize plant production and save energy.

It also includes a discussion on the impact pumping systems have on the efficiency of a speed control method. This paper also describes several types of speed variation devices currently used for pumps.

Finally, it refers readers to a publication by the Hydraulic Institute for more in-depth information about variable speed pumping.