When it comes to the transport and distribution of incompressible fluids, users are increasingly relying on concepts with decentralized intelligence that controls processes autonomously, identifies errors and solves problems independently. Depending on the type of application, required speed and torque, different drive solutions can be considered for pump applications. For example, pumps that are used for tasks such as the supply of drinking, cooling and process water or cleaning solutions or the disposal of waste water must primarily ensure a smooth flow. This requires a high degree of stability in the drive speed. Pumps for filling liquids, on the other hand, require maximum positioning accuracy. Nord Drive-systems offers a wide range of gearboxes, motors and decentralized drive electronics and can therefore meet all requirements and customer wishes in pump technology. The range also includes explosion-proof pump drives for use in highly sensitive hazardous areas.

High performance at low cost

Decentrally controlled pump drives offer significant advantages: they save space in the control cabinet, reduce the amount of wiring and cabling required, simplify maintenance and thus increase the efficiency of the entire drive system. The drive components from Nord are available with outputs of up to 22 kW. They have an integrated PLC as standard and are available with standard connectors. The frequency inverter is installed directly on the motor. This allows the drives to be integrated into the system topology without major modifications. This reduces the costs for the system design. Pre-commissioning at the factory also makes installation easier to plan. Thanks to the modular design, the inverters are easy to expand.

By controlling the pump drives via frequency inverters, different pump characteristics can be selected by simply changing the parameters. The parameter sets are stored in the inverter and allow the pumps to be adapted to different media, flow rates or process requirements. In the case of special controls for pumps, the inverter performs all functions from measured value acquisition to PID control and speed control. Nord offers modules for practically all standard fieldbus systems, which are simply plugged into the inverter and integrate it into the fieldbus network.

Integrated PLC ensures high performance

By integrating the PLC into the frequency inverters, Nord's decentralized pump drives can form master-slave groups that communicate with each other and take over control tasks independently. The PLC records and processes the drive and pump data and can initiate sequence controls autonomously. If, for example, a blockage occurs in a sewage treatment plant with a self-monitoring system of wastewater pumps, this is detected and - if possible - resolved independently. Otherwise, the blockage is reported to the central control system and a networked replacement drive is activated. This continuous monitoring of the field level, the linking of communication, sensors, process data and the vital parameters of the drive enables continuous condition monitoring and thus lays the foundation for condition-based maintenance. Predictive maintenance solutions can be developed on this basis. The aim of these algorithms is to reduce unplanned downtimes, reduce maintenance and servicing costs and increase the service life of the drives and connected pumps.

Thanks to its wide range of functions and high flexibility, the Nordac Flex SK 200E frequency inverter is particularly suitable for pump applications. It offers outputs of up to 22 kW and can also be adapted to changing conditions thanks to a wide range of accessories. Thanks to an EEPROM removable memory, which contains the parameter set and the PLC program, the PLC settings can be easily transferred from one inverter to another in the event of a replacement. The energy-saving function for the partial load range enables automatic adjustment of the motor power in the event of changing requirements. The inverter offers all the necessary interfaces to integrate it into the customer's automation solutions. In addition to digital interfaces, it also offers the option of analog value processing and can therefore evaluate the customer's flow sensors and dosing sensors. Protection classes up to IP66 ensure safe operation.

Reduce energy consumption

Since pump drives are usually in use around the clock without interruption, energy efficiency is an important factor. Nord supplies economical and powerful IE4 synchronous motors for this purpose. Thanks to PMSM (permanent magnet synchronous motor) technology, the motors have a high and relatively constant efficiency over a wide speed and torque range and therefore also offer good energy consumption performance in partial load and partial speed ranges. As a result, they achieve significant cost reductions over their entire service life and a fast break-even point with only a small additional investment requirement.

Whether water supply and wastewater disposal, process engineering or the food and beverage industry - pump systems are used in almost all sectors. The decentralized drives from Nord Drivesystems are networked, self-sufficient and scalable. Thanks to their flexibility, modularity and user-friendliness, they meet the increasing degree of automation and networking in the pump industry. In addition, they guarantee reliable and safe operation and open up numerous possibilities for process, energy and cost optimization.

According to documents from Nord / am