Motor-driven pumps are one of the important mechanical devices used to transfer different types of fluids, in various industries. It is noticed that pump installations often fail due to reasons varying from suction loss to jams, thereby causing severe damage to pumps or their motors. How can this be avoided? The answer is that it can be avoided by monitoring the load on the motor. Is there a reliable way to monitor the motor load? Yes, there is a reliable way and Techna-Guard offers the same. How does this pump overload detector work? Read the post to know more.
Why TechnaGuard Monitors the Power Instead of Current for Overload Detection?
It is seen that most other pump overload detectors in the USA focus on the current monitoring of a pump. However, the TechnaGuard pump overload detector is different because it monitors power instead of current. It is designed on a principle that the power requirements of a motor-driven device depend on the amount of the work done by it. It means the pump may require more power if it is expected to draw heavy loads or vice-versa. This indicates that power is directly proportional to the load on the motor. This concept is better explained through an equation.
P = (U) (I) (Cosφ)(√3)
P = Power (Watts)
U = Voltage (Volts)
I = Current (Amps)
Cosφ = Power Factor (ranges from 0 to 1)
√3 = multiplication factor for three phases (1.73)
Techna-Guard monitors the power consumption of the motor in the pump because the power factor of a motor improves with the load on a motor. The power is a linear value that provides you vital information required to control various processes and the equipment. The following points will help you understand it better:
- When the load is low, the power consumption is low.
- When the load is high, the power consumption is high.
- At light loads, the power is 10X times sensitive than the current.
Why is TechnaGuard Superior to Other Pump Overload Detectors in the Market?
TechnaGuard has a true digital design with no dials or pots. The device is suited for monitoring the power consumption of pumps that are driven by three-phase motors, especially, AC motors. TechnaGuard has gained immense popularity in the market owing to its pump overload detection features such as the ones mentioned here:
- Set Points: The trip points are set at a particular level, at which the in-built relays trip or change the state. This pump overload detector allows you to set two set points for a high trip and low trip. In the high trip condition, the device will trip when the power peaks above the Set Point, whereas in the low trip Condition, the device will trip when the power goes below the Set Point.
- Relay Outputs: The alarm serves as the relay output. The device produces a high alarm for overload and a low alarm for a dry run.
- Trip Delay Timers: There are trip delay timers that help avoid nuisance trips that are caused during the start-up and on delays. These timers bypass the control of the trip for a selected time. It means, the relays of the device won’t trip until that set time exceeds. If the trip condition changes before the set time, the timer will be automatically reset to zero.
- Reset: If the Set Point is attained the relay will trip, and it will latch in the position until the next reset occurs. In this condition, the control can be reset manually, automatically, or remotely.
This pump overload detector is offered in two variants – Techna Guard CT and Techna Guard S. The TechnaGuard CT measures the electrical power using a current transformer and is suited for single-phase and symmetric load power measurement. TechnaGuard S is ideal for measuring three-phase, symmetric or asymmetric load power measurements. Both these variants are provided with four digital controls— Up, Down, Mode, and Reset. To know more about the pump overload detection characteristics, you can click here.