1. New England Association Of Fire Protection System Designers Rick Dumont

2. Evolution of Fire Pump Controllers with Special Emphasis on Variable Frequency Drives

3. Overview of Discussion Two different styles of controllers are used to operate fire pumps… Electric Controllers Diesel Controllers

4. Electric Motor Driven

5. Diesel Engine Driven

6. Basic Overview of Electric Controllers Full Voltage a.k.a. - Across the Line Reduced Voltage

7. Full Voltage °Inexpensive °Simple to build °Standard 3 phase motor Smaller Enclosure sizes Advantages: Disadvantages: °Limits HP size due to inrush current °Generally not suitable for generator use

8. Reduced Voltage °Primary Resistor °Wye Delta Open Transition °Wye Delta Closed Transition °Part Winding °Auto-transformer °Solid State Soft- Starter

9. Controller / Motor Type °Across-the-line °Primary Resistor °Auto-transformer °Solid State Soft-Starter °Standard 3-phase induction motor Advantage? Most inexpensive motors Readily available 3 wire connections from controller

10. Controller / Motor Type °Across-the-line * °Primary Resistor * °Auto-transformer °Solid State Soft-Starter °Standard 3-phase induction motor Disadvantage? Controller more expensive (*exception)

11. Controller / Motor Type °Wye Delta Open Transition °Wye Delta Closed Transition °Part Winding °Requires Wye/Delta motor °Ditto °Requires Part Wind motor Disadvantage? Motor may be a long lead item

12. Purpose of any electric Fire Pump Controller… …to start a motor, without jeopardizing the power source, and bring it to it’s fully rated horsepower Only then will a pump provide rated pressure and flow to satisfy the design requirements.

13. Would it be beneficial to you as designers and installers… …if you could limit the pressure of the system by changing the speed of the pump?

14. A Variable Frequency Controller… …can “vary” the speed of a motor to “maintain” a desired pressure in a system.

15. Rocket Science ? °Domestic Water Systems °Chemical Feed Systems °HVAC Systems Hardly !

16. How do they work ? What does an AC Motor need to operate properly? Rated Frequency + Rated Voltage = Rated Horsepower

17. How do they work ? Three phase AC power 2 Components Frequency Amplitude

18. How do they work ? A traditional reduced voltage controller… …changes voltage level only …reduces inrush current …frequency is constant

19. How do they work ? Variable Frequency Drive Also known as… Variable Speed Drive Inverter VFD or VSD

20. How do they work ? Variable Frequency Drive DC Rectifiers460/3/60Inverter 0-460 vac 0-60 hz Power Input 600 vdc

21. How do they work ? Variable Frequency Drive DC Rectifiers460/3/60Inverter 0-460 vac 0-60 hz Power Input 600 vdc

22. How is pressure controlled? Via a “Closed Loop System” Two Components to a Closed Loop System: How do they work ? Setpoint Feedback

23. Setpoint Devices… Temperature Control Systems How do they work ? Thermostat Pressure Control Systems Digital Keypad

24. Feedback Devices… Temperature Control Systems How do they work ? Thermocouple Pressure Control Systems Pressure Transducer

25. Setpoint Device How do they work ?