Grundfos pressure booster. Grundfos UPA: models, application features. Grundfos Upa booster systems and their design
Reading 6 min.
The Upa pump (grundfos) is used as a pressure booster cold water, which is also called a booster circulation pump. booster pressure circulation pump used in already running piping and water supply systems, so that either the inlet valve of the flower, washing machine, loop boiler or column for heating water.
The lineup The compact Grundfos Upa 15-90-160 and Grundfos series are made of technopolymer composite materials (wheel), cast iron (housing), ceramic shaft and bearings and cast bronze union nuts. Let's take a closer look at the Grundfos range of water booster pumps.
Grundfos Upa booster systems and their design
Their common parameters will be the following mandatory characteristics:
- wet rotor;
- their cast iron body with anti-corrosion composition;
- ceramic bearings.
The rest of the models may differ slightly.
Grundfos Upa 120
There is a two-mode control switch: manual and automatic. This is necessary in order to ensure the operation of the equipment, regardless of the presence and serviceability of the pressure / fluid flow sensor. If there is no sensor, the device is set to manual (forced) mode. If there is a sensor in the pipe, the pump will turn on automatically only when the water flow exceeds 90 liters per hour.
The flow sensor is not included with this model. It will need to be purchased separately. But this installation can be used for direct connection to the water supply system and for open water systems.
The noiselessness of the device is achieved due to the internal cooling of the rotor, and, therefore, the absence of a fan. Therefore, it can be installed in apartments and houses without worrying about additional sound insulation.
With its relatively low power of 235 W, the device is capable of creating pressure up to 13 meters. And cable protection against short circuits reliably protects the operation of the electric motor.
Uninterrupted operation is guaranteed at air humidity up to 95% and air temperatures from +2 to 40°C, in the water heating range from 2 to 60°C and at a minimum pressure on the nozzle of 0.5 bar. Water consumption during normal operation up to 2.8 cubic meters per hour.
GRUNDFOS UPA 120 pressure booster pump in the water supply system (video)
Grundfos UPA 15-90
The Grundfos booster pump model 15-90 can be used for mounting directly on the pipeline due to its in-line design. Built-in (dry running) automatically turns off the pump in case of interruptions in water supply.
Three-position terminal box: full switch-off (OFF), automatic switch-on with installed water passage sensor (AUTO) and mode manual control system (MANUAL), which puts the unit into forced operation.
In this model, unlike the 120th, there is a built-in sensor, which is also called a flow switch. The noise level peaks at 35 decibels. The pump is designed without the use of glands. Rotor type - wet. Type of installation of the device - vertical.
The power of the device is 118 W and the pressure is 8 meters with a throughput of up to 1.5 cubic meters per hour. The maximum water temperature is 60°C. The system is equipped with protection against power surges and overheating due to rising water temperature, and monitors the water level in the machine automatically.
What you need to remember when connecting any pump:
- be sure to ground the connector;
- squeeze out excess air;
- turn it on for the first time in auto mode.
Pressure switch
Flow switches (flow sensor,) are used for evaporators, pumps, boilers. This is the very protection against dry running, which turns on automatically in the event of a cessation of water supply to the pressure system.
Pressure switch Grundfos FF4-8
Specifications and description. Differential pressure switch FF4-8 Day, designed for pressure from 0.5 to 8 bar, made in Denmark or Germany, is designed to control the operation of pressure equipment depending on the change in water pressure in the pipeline. It can easily work in the range of temperature differences up to + 50°С.
Operating principle. With this device, you can adjust not only the water pressure in the pipes, but also air and oil. This is a useful item for automating hydraulic supply systems, pumps and compressors.
The relay starts or stops the operation of the equipment if the set pressure parameter reaches the threshold value. The model range includes 5 different modifications:
- FF4-2, which is rated up to 2 bar;
- FF4-4 (range - from 0.22 to 4 bar);
- FF4-8 (from 0.5 to 8 bar);
- FF4-16 (from 1 to 16 bar);
- FF4-32 (from 2 to 32 bar).
Some have a self-test mode. The cases are made of transparent plastic, and the setting can be set using a pressure gauge. Mounting the sensor is allowed in any convenient position.
To protect against sudden bursts of pressure, additional chokes are installed. Permissible motor power - 220 V ~ 0.55 kW, degree of protection IP 54 (IP 65 - if cable clamps are installed). Permissible temperature range – from -200°С to +700°С.
Grundfos Mdr 21-6 pressure switch and Mdr 5 series
Pressure switches Mdr 21-6 and Mdr 5-8 and 5-5 are placed on pumps and automatic systems water supply. It is designed to close and open the electrical circuit, depending on the state of water pressure in the pipes. The package includes two threaded couplings for . In total, there are five modifications in the series for different pressure ranges:
Increasing the threshold pressure to the maximum pressure will always turn off the pumps if they are working properly. The temperature of the medium of the working fluid that the sensor can withstand is from -5 ° C to +80 ° C at a power of 220 to 380 W. All are connected to single-phase and three-phase motors.
Mdr 21-6 sensors withstand pressure from 0.5 to 4.5 bar, and at a current of 16 A, the motor power reaches 2.2 kW. Protection class IP 44. Mechanical switch. By the way, the Grundfos SQ pump model must come with the Mdr 21-6 sensor by default.
Electronic pressure sensors (relays) RM1 and RM2
The basic model PM1 and the advanced version PM2 withstand pressures from 1.5 to 2 or up to 5 bar (respectively). Equipped with dry run protection and shutdown alarm.
The PM2 is equipped with an additional internal pressure tank, and can be optimized to work with a large external pressure tank, which will significantly reduce the operating hours of the pumping equipment.
Insufficient pressure in the water supply system can be in a city apartment, and in a private house, powered from a well or well. In such cases, you can not do without special equipment that increases the pressure in existing systems.
The devices designed for this purpose include the grundfos upa 15 90 booster pump. This device, manufactured by a well-known European company, is considered one of the best in its segment and deserves to learn more about it.
Pump Features
All booster pumps work on the same principle, but they also have differences. Grundfos refers to units with a built-in flow sensor that automatically turns it on and off when necessary. It is installed on water supply systems - cold or hot.
Design
The device works almost silently, as its design provides for the use of a wet rotor. It functions by being immersed in the pumped medium, in this case - in water, which is the coolant for it. The working part is reliably isolated from the electrical part by a stainless steel sleeve.
Note. The noise characteristics of grundfos upa 15 90 pumps are very low: the noise level does not exceed 35 dB, so they can be installed in residential areas without additional sound insulation. Whereas for pumps with a dry rotor cooled by a fan, this figure is much higher.
Other design features include:
- wet rotor assumes the absence of oil seals, which increases the service life of the device;
- Closing and opening valves on the supply pipe automatically monitored by a sensor that turns the pump on and off;
- If the valve is closed or there is no water in the system, the device will not turn on. that protects it from running dry;
- Compact size and light weight allows you to mount the device by simply inserting it into the pipe without additional fittings;
- Due to low power consumption, step-up Grundfos does not need reinforced wiring.
The last two points allow consumers to install the pump with their own hands. It is not necessary to invite specialists for this. This is required only if you do not have the right tool, time or desire to do this work.
Operating modes
The device can operate both in automatic mode and on manual control.
Modes are switched using the toggle switch:
- OFF- stop the pump. Water just passes through it;
- AUTO- activation of an automatic flow sensor, which turns off the equipment at a satisfactory water flow (90-120 liters per hour), and automatically turns it on when it decreases. It necessarily works to shutdown and in the absence of water in the system when its supply is stopped or the valve is closed. This protects the engine from damage when idling;
- MANUAL- the pump works constantly regardless of the presence or absence of water, low flow. The dry-running protection does not work in this case, so the water supply valve must not be closed.
Specifications
In the table below you will find the main characteristics of the grundfos upa 15 90 pump.
It refers to surface circulation devices for pressurizing systems with clean water and has the following options:
How to connect the pump
Installation and connection instructions for the booster pump are included with each device. We present it here in an abbreviated form.
So:
- A suitable place is selected for the device and a pipe section is cut in accordance with its dimensions. It is important that the motor shaft is horizontal;
- When connecting to pipes, all joints must be waterproofed using a special FUM tape for threaded connections or linen tow;
Advice. Before connecting the device to pipes, wet all joints with water.
- The shut-off valve is then opened and a visual and tactile check for leaks is performed. If they are, the joints are untwisted and isolated additionally;
- The pump connector is grounded;
- The toggle switch is set to the AUTO position;
- The pump is connected to the power supply using a cable with a mains plug. You can use an extension cord, but it is better to mount the outlet nearby;
- To remove air from the device, special tool unscrew the plug located in the connector on the housing. When all the air is out, it is returned to its place.
Everything, the equipment has started its work, nothing more is required of you. The only condition for its normal operation is the absence of mechanical impurities in the water, so it may also be necessary to install a coarse filter.
The price of the device is 6000-6500 rubles, which is very inexpensive with a service life of about 10 years.
Conclusion
When there is not enough pressure in the network to use washing machine or a shower, the most reasonable solution to this problem would be to install a pump that increases pressure in the system. And among other devices of this type, Grundfos is the most reliable and durable, which is confirmed by the video in this article.
I did not find any shortcomings - this is the biggest advantage.
The price is high, on the other hand, reliability and quality should be worth the money.
The fifth floor, and even with a gas column, has a number of advantages. Although many will find a bunch of shortcomings. For me personally, the absence of neighbors from above, warm batteries and forced gymnastics are only pluses. Until all the neighbors changed the risers, I regularly encountered a problem with low water pressure, and if the tap in the bathroom or in the kitchen doesn’t care what pressure, then modern gas water heaters refuse to work if there is no pressure in the system. Everything was decided by installing an additional Grandfos pump, which is able to increase the pressure in the water supply network.
The first time I encountered a serious problem on New Year when all the housewives, not only at home, but also in the city, were actively preparing for the holiday in the kitchen. It is clear that the water pressure was simply not enough and my Proton column decided that it would not work. What I didn’t do with her and closed the fuses and tried to activate it manually, but she was silent and the ignition did not work, since her automation did not see the water in the system and defined it as a breakdown. My wife was just fierce, quite a lot of guests were supposed to come to us, but there was no hot water and cooking, respectively, a living hell, there was nothing to wash normally. I don’t even remember how everything was decided in the end, but after the holidays, the first thing I did was to look for a pump that could maintain pressure.
There were only originals in the stores, the Chinese counterparts had not yet reached our shelves, and I did not regret it, and for the peace of my personal life I bought Grandfos for 120 euros. In principle, even among the originals, I did not have much choice, in fact, only two options, more powerful and weaker. Having estimated, I took the one that has less power, in fact, I do not need a pressure of a couple of meters of water column. In addition, mine has a cast iron case, while the second model has a stainless steel case. Both of these factors led to a lower cost of the pump. Pleased with the low power consumption, with a maximum load of 120 watts.
I installed it not according to the rules, as the manufacturer recommends, at the water supply inlet, but right under the column. Since then, it has run at any pressure in the overall system. A huge plus of the pump is its fully automatic operation. Opened the tap, the pressure began to weaken, it started. The faucet turned off the pump stopped pumping water.
During operation, it is not audible at all until you put your hand on it, then you feel a slight vibration. The only problem he gave me was installation, when he changed metal pipes to polypropylene ones. plastic pipes, his cast-iron carcass simply could not stand it, I had to mount it to the wall. And for more than 10 years, this real hard worker continues to delight my family and gas water heater. By the way, during this time, 2 geysers have been changed and even the sensitive ultra-modern Baxi works fine with the pump and does not respond to pressure drops in the water supply system.
Don't know what to do with insufficient or jumping water pressure? The Grundfos booster pump will solve the problem and provide uniform pressure for both cold and hot water supply. I will talk about the most popular modification of this type of equipment and accurately convey the technical aspects of its installation.
Model Features
First of all, let's deal with the characteristics of the pump, consider it design features and main benefits.
Equipment characteristics
Main technical characteristics:
- Pump type - circulating superficial;
- Maximum hydrostatic head - 9 meters;
- Throughput - 1.8 cubic meters. at one o'clock;
- Energy consumption - 118 watts per hour;
- The water temperature in the system is from 2 to 60 degrees. The liquid must be clean;
- Wet type rotor;
- Type of work - automatic or manual;
- Water level control, temperature rise protection system;
- Noise level - 35 dB;
- Inlet and outlet diameter - ½ inch;
- Mounting length - 212 mm;
- Case material - cast iron;
- Protection class - IP42;
- Mains voltage - 220 volts.
All indicators comply with European standards. The noise level is so low that the equipment can be placed even in residential areas without additional soundproofing of the system.
Features of the pump Grundfos UPA 15-90
The main advantages of this model are:
- economy. The energy consumption is so low that you will almost never see a difference in your energy bills once the equipment is installed. At the same time, the performance indicators are at a very high level;
- Durability. The pump does not have glands in the design, the motor operates in the “wet rotor” mode, while the stator is reliably protected from moisture. This layout option makes the equipment many times more reliable and durable, because there are no seals in the system, which inevitably wear out and start to leak over time;
- Noiselessness. The noise level is so low that the equipment is almost inaudible during operation, even if it is not covered by a screen or partition. This is also due to the design features, in which there is no cooling system and oil seals that rub during operation;
- Dry run protection. There is a system in the pump that turns off the equipment if water suddenly disappears in the pipes during operation. This increases the safety of operation and eliminates equipment failure if the water is turned off without warning;
- Light weight and dimensions. This factor simplifies installation, as the system does not take up much space and fits almost anywhere you need it. The second advantage is that the low weight does not create a load on the pipes and the pump can be mounted directly on them without additional fastening to the wall, it is enough to put two clamps on the pipeline on both sides of the equipment;
- Efficient Automation. Sensors clearly monitor the opening and closing of valves, and the pressure drop in the system below a certain level. This allows the pump to turn on when it is needed to provide a stable water pressure;
- Ease of connection. The pump is placed on pipes in any convenient way, it all depends on the type of pipeline. To turn on the power, just insert the plug into the socket.
Do not forget to place a power outlet near the pump installation site. Put the option in a waterproof case. Since the power of the equipment is small, standard household wiring is also suitable, nothing needs to be strengthened.
The main feature of the design is a wet rotor, which is immersed in the working environment and thus cools during operation. The stator is separated by a stainless steel sleeve. This layout option allows you to reduce the noise level to a minimum, because there are no cooling fans in the system.
The average price of equipment is 6-7 thousand rubles.
There is a switch on the case, which can be located in three positions:
- OFF. The system is off. In this case, water will be supplied through the pipeline as usual. There will be no problems with water supply;
- AUTO. Automatic operation of the equipment from a special flow sensor. The pump stops working at a water flow of 90-120 liters and turns on again when this figure falls below the specified limit. This mode automatically turns off the unit when the water supply is interrupted, this allows you to protect the engine from overheating and failure;
- MANUAL. The pump is constantly running, regardless of the pressure of the water. In this mode, there is no protection against dry running, so there must always be water in the system, otherwise the equipment will fail. Most often, this setting is used when the equipment is used as a circulation pump in a heating system.
Pump installation
Do-it-yourself instructions look like this:
| Illustration | Stage description |
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Everything you need is being prepared. In addition to the pump with a set of fasteners, we need:
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The markup is being carried out. Lines are marked on the pipe along which it will be necessary to cut. It is best to attach the pump in order to see in place how it will stand and if there are any obstacles for the installation option you have chosen. |
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A pipe is threaded. The process is simple:
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A threaded adapter is screwed onto the pipe. To do this, tow is first wound on the thread, you can apply the Unipack composition for reliability. The element is first baited by hand, and then tightened to the stop with a pipe wrench, which is adjusted to the size you need. |
My pump - Grundfos UPA 15-90 - made in Belgium is shown in photo 1. Don't look at how unsightly it is! Small, but remote. For five years he worked practically without breaks for lunch, holidays, and even at night.
The beauty of this pump is that it starts when you turn on the faucet and turns off automatically when you turn it off. At the same time, the noise level is so low that sometimes you have to listen to see if it is alive. It increases the pressure by 0.6 - 0.8 bar.
In the delivery set, along with the pump, there is a special key, with which it can be disassembled to the screw. However, there are only four screws in the pump. All have a hexagon head. And they are located on the pump housing, which consists of two halves. One is made of aluminum and contains the motor stator. The other is cast iron. And it contains the pump impeller, inlet and outlet openings, as well as seals and a flow sensor. An important feature of the Grundfos UPA 15-90 pump is the presence of protection against "dry running" and a wet rotor. The pump is automatically blocked. if the water flow is less than 90 liters per minute. A wet rotor is a design feature of the manufacturer, who cleverly killed two birds with one stone - there is both lubrication and cooling.
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| Photo 3 The pump is clean! |
An autopsy of the Chukchi showed that there was almost no dirt or rust in it. The pump was almost pristine! You can verify this by looking at photo 3 Only a little rust spoiled the perfect appearance. However, this shortcoming is easily remedied. It is enough to wipe it with a rag.
But with the stator, things were much worse. The lamellas of the stator windings were strongly oxidized and the casing of the wet rotor made of stainless steel had to be removed with a hammer and such and such a mother. Photo 4 shows this most unique rotor with water as lubrication and cooling.
In general, I can note that the Grundfos UPA 15-90 pump is reliable and coped with its mission. I would very much like the pump to be no longer needed at all!
In continuation of the topic, I want to dwell in more detail on the operation of the sensor and the flow switch. The fact is that over time, the sensor can become overgrown with rust deposits and dirt, which will eventually lead to the fact that the pump will stop. Therefore, the sensor must sometimes be removed and cleaned from all this "good". Below I provide some photos showing the whole process of removing this sensor.
This photo shows that I removed the cover from the pump control unit. In the foreground is a sensor board with a reed switch. The reed switch is located to the left of the transistor. Under the board is a capacitor that suppresses interference.
And this is the same sensor that needs to be removed for cleaning. I disassembled the pump housing and split it in half. This way you can easily get to the sensor.
This is a general view of the sensor board and the pump with the housing removed.
This is a curtain that activates a magnetic sensor when we turn on the water.
And this is a board and a sensor in a pair. As you can see, there is no electrical contact or mechanical connection between them. Only magnetic.
To remove the sensor, you need to unscrew the two screws with a standard key that comes with the pump.
Both screws are out
The sensor housing can be easily removed by hand. On the curtain is a round piece with magnets that are mounted on it on both sides. The screwdriver in the photo is magnetized to one of the magnets.
The sensor itself is removed by hand with a slight wiggle. If it is very silted, then you can gently pry it with a flat screwdriver.
This is what the sensor looks like. He's made of plastic. Here it is necessary to clean it with a toothbrush, as recommended by the manufacturer.
Assembly is done in reverse order. I am also attaching a short video to make it clearer. I had to take it off with one hand and take it apart with the other. So not very convenient. But understand what and how you can.
The reliability of this proprietary pump is surprisingly great. Just as great is the reliability of real auto parts. Which, for example, an online auto parts store in Mytishchi can offer. It hardly makes sense today to agitate literate motorists for high-quality auto parts that are not made by the Vietnamese with a file in the barn, but by real certified manufacturers. People, do not destroy yourself and others! Buy quality spare parts in stores!