Varying the speed of a pump can be beneficial in meeting variable flow requirements and to improve energy efficiency. A common way to accomplish this is by using variable frequency drives (VFDs). VFDs allow engineers and operators to change the speed of the pump’s motor, and thus the rotating speed of the pump. Varying the speed of a pump will result in varying performance characteristics such as the head rise generated by the pump. AFT Fathom allows users to modify the speed of a pump and will automatically calculate the operational impact this will have using the affinity laws.
Pumps may also be varied to a control scheme. The pump model in AFT Fathom lets users specify the control logic and set point to characterize the impact this will have on the system’s overall performance. In transient models, AFT Impulse will also allow users to model the changes in speed with time.
Resources
Blog – NPSH Got You Under Pressure? This’ll Get You Pumped!
Blog – Easily Model Multiple Pump Configurations with ONE PUMP!
As AFT's Director of Marketing, Susan is responsible for managing all marketing efforts for AFT including strategy development and implementation, website optimization, customer-facing materials, the monthly newsletter and E-marketing. Prior to joining AFT, she spent 17 years in a variety of positions at AT&T including Assistant to the Director of Marketing. Susan holds a Bachelor of Science (1988) and a Masters of Science (1991) in Management Science from Stevens Institute of Technology.