GRUNDFOS
WHY BOOSTER SYSTEMS?
by Steve Wilson
WHITE PAPER
I n order to make the best possible booster
system selection, it is often necessary to take
a step back and review exactly what booster
Option #2
A single (or multiple) pump can be piped to a
large “rooftop” storage tank. From a pure operat-
systems are and why they are used. ing cost standpoint, this is perhaps the best solu-
Booster systems are variable volume devices tion: The large pump will have superior efficien-
used to maintain required pressure in an installa- cies to smaller pumps, and it is not running at all
tion, regardless of the flow requirements. for a majority of the time.
As demand increases or decreases, pumps are Water from the tank is used to satisfy demand.
turned on and off to provide users with the water As the level in the tank is reduced to a predeter-
they need at constant apparent pressure, regard- mined point, the pump is started and used to fill
less of water demand elsewhere in the installation. the tank. When the tank is full, the pump is shut
Booster systems in today’s marketplace are typi- down. This method also has several drawbacks.
cally multi-pump, factory assembled, parallel For example:
pumping packages: the term “Booster System” • The pump must again be oversized, including
has become virtually synonymous with such accommodation for the increased static head
packages. To understand why such packages are to the tank.
used, let’s review some of the options available • The building structure must be strengthened
to the plumbing designer: to support the weight of the tank and water,
Option #1 which, in many cases (particularly those with
building codes which offer earthquake protec-
A single fixed-speed pump sized for total system tion), such tanks are not allowed.
capacity and allowed to run continuously can be
used. The addition of a pressure regulating valve • In areas with building height limitations,
to regulate down stream (discharge) pressure to rentable/salable penthouse space must be
an acceptable constant is often added. converted to tank space.
Unfortunately, this method, while exhibiting the • The water in the tank is susceptible to bacteria
lowest initial cost, has severe drawbacks which and other contaminants.
render its use neither practical nor desirable. • Piping costs are increased, and standby capac-
Since the pump must be sized for maximum ity is limited.
flow – and maximum flow (which is a predicted Option #3
number at best) will seldom be required – the
pump must be operated at greatly reduced loads A single variable speed pump (or perhaps a single
much of the time. pump with an auxiliary standby unit) can be
used, as can the single pump previously dis-
Such a movement away from the best efficiency cussed. In this case, however, PRV’s should not
point adversely affects pump life (radial loads are be used; rather, the speed of the pump used to
increased) and operating costs (pump and motor match the pump curve to the system curve.
efficiencies and power factors are reduced). Fur-
ther, no standby capacity is maintained, as would This approach has widely gained acceptance
be needed if the pump fails. in recent years with the development of cost-
WHY BOOSTER SYSTEMS? GRUNDFOS WHITE PAPER | 2
effective variable speed drives. However, several
drawbacks still apply.
Most of the pressure required will be used to
overcome building static head, so that variation
in speed will generally be limited. The drives
themselves impart an inherent inefficiency to the
system. Standby capacity is still limited. (Variable
speed systems are discussed in a separate paper.)
Option #4
Multiple pump systems can be designed with the
rest of the plumbing system and constructed by
the contractor. Though once this was a popular
approach, the complications associated with in-
tegrating the necessary pumps, piping, sequenc-
ing devices, and controller have rendered this
approach impractical. Unit responsibility is lost.
SUMMARY
So, the factory assembled, packaged booster sys-
tems remain the logical choice for the majority of
applications, even if only through the process of
elimination. They should be used and selected to
provide
• Maximum energy savings
• Standby capacity
• Reliability
• Long life
• Ease of installation and maintenance
• Unit responsibility
Making a selection for any other reason, or ignor-
ing any of the above reasons, will quite possibly
result in unsatisfactory installations. The installa-
tion will have to operate for an extended period
of time, and saving a few dollars in initial cost
(at the risk of compromising the above consider-
ations) seems “penny wise and pound foolish.”
Being responsible is our foundation
Thinking ahead makes it possible
Innovation is the essence
USA USA CANADA MEXICO
GRUNDFOS Pumps Corporation PACO Pumps – National Headquarters GRUNDFOS Canada Inc. Bombas GRUNDFOS de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
17100 West 118th Terrace Grundfos CBS Inc. 2941 Brighton Road Boulevard TLC No. 15
Olathe, KS 66061 902 Koomey Road Oakville, Ontario Parque Industrial Stiva Aeropuerto
Phone: (913) 227-3400 Brookshire, TX 77423 L6H 6C9 C.P. 66600 Apodaca, N.L. Mexico
Telefax: (913) 227-3500 Phone: (800) 955-5847 Phone: (905) 829-9533 Phone: 011-52-81-8144 4000
Telefax: (800) 945-4777 Telefax: (905) 829-9512 Telefax: 011-52-81-8144-4010
L-CBS-WP-15 • Rev. 12/09 (US)
[Link]
