Danfoss Releases Water-Dedicated Variable Frequency Drive Portfolio

Large industrial pumps often use VFDs to control pump speed and reduce energy consumption. These VFDs, however, typically introduce harmonics into the electrical grid and lack features specifically for pumping water.

Recently, Danfoss released the iC7-Aqua, a VFD designed specifically for controlling pumps. The iC7-Aqua includes features for controlling multiple pumps, preventing dry run scenarios, and managing multiple pump networks to help prevent system leaks.

These capabilities, coupled with cloud management, cybersecurity, and lower output harmonics, provide the water industry with a dedicated VFD solution.

Danfoss has built its iC7-Aqua VFD for water management systems. Image courtesy of Danfoss

iC7-Aqua Water-Dedicated VFDs

Treating wastewater requires pumping large volumes of water daily, and the pumps that move this water are typically one of the largest consumers of electrical power in the industry. The iC7-Aqua VFD from Danfoss uses advanced high-energy efficiency output power to significantly reduce energy consumption.

The VFD is available in two versions: the standard drive with motor ratings of 0.5 - 1000 hp at 380 to 480 VAC and an ultra-low harmonic (ULH) version with motor ratings of 30 - 250 hp at 380 to 480 VAC.

Both versions have pump-specific features such as dry-run detection, end-of-curve detection, and pipe-fill mode. A continuous monitoring mode allows for monitoring of vibrations and load envelope to help detect issues before they occur.

The iC7-Aqua VFDs feature built-in protection functions specifically engineered for water pumping applications. Image used courtesy of Danfoss

Conserving Energy Features

To help conserve energy, Danfoss has packed several features into the iC7-Aqua. Flow compensation and sleep mode automatically reduce pump speed during periods of low demand.

Multi-pump control allows for one drive to control and monitor multiple pumps within the same system, reducing component and commissioning costs. Automatic energy optimization uses advanced algorithms to optimize the output of the iC7-Aqua.

Additionally, the iC7-Aqua has an integrated display with menus to configure and set up the drive. Pluggable terminals and ample space within the wiring area make for easy installation and probe testing. Additional configuring and monitoring can be executed with the MyDrive Insight software, a multi-tool engineering suite offered by Danfoss.

For external control and monitoring, the iC7-Aqua supports a wide selection of field bus communication technologies such as ProfiNet, ModBus TCP, and Ethernet/IP. Each iC7-Aqua also includes a SIL 3 safety rating with internal diagnostics and an integrated STO function.

The iC7-Aqua drives are available in an ultra low-harmonic version for harmonics mitigation. Image courtesy of Danfoss

Ultra-Low Harmonics

The ULH version of the iC7-Aqua is designed for installations with sensitive power grids. The output power is conditioned to have a total harmonic distortion of less than 3% at full load, and a 3-5% distortion at partial loads. This design feature reduces the need for oversized transformers or additional downstream electrical filters.

The ULH version has a 3-wire in and 3-wire out configuration to make installation as easy as possible. The unit is compact yet still highly efficient.

A Specific Application Requires a Specific Drive

In many other industries, specific applications are tools or components that are designed for that application; why is it not for VFD’s? As your motor load changes to different applications, so should your drive control. Danfoss recognizes this, which is the driving force for the release of the iC7-Aqua, a drive specifically designed for the water industry.