How Much Flow Volume From A Pool Pump
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This is a continuation of variable speed swimming pool pump bench tests to determine flow rates and electrical consumption for variable speed pool pumps operating at various RPM speeds. This article is looking at a bench test that has this pump installed with a 2" suction line and a 1.5" discharge line and installed with a 240 Volt electrical service. To see these additional bench tests you can view these articles:
Pentair SuperFlo Bench test 1.5" pipes / 240 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo bench test 1.5" pipes / 120 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo Bench test 2" pipes / 120 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo Bench test 2" pipes / 240 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo Full Flow 2" test (with filter) / 240 Volt
This test will look at the Pentair Superflo variable speed pump installed with a 240 volt electrical service, however this time the system will be using only a single suction line and a single return line. The suction line will be 2" in size and the return line will be 1.5" in size. This test is to help illustrate real world examples of how much your plumbing configuration and pipe size will affect the flow rates and electrical efficiency of your pump. In the attached video you will see that electrical use is being monitored by an external Wattage meter, and the flow rate (which is extremely important for variable speed pumps) is being monitored via a series of analog flow meters. For more information about the importance of flow and flow meters and where you can get one you can read this article about swimming pool flow meters.
This test is similar to this other 240 Volt Pentair Superflo bench test except that now there is only a single suction line (2") where the other test had dual suction lines, one 2" and one 1.5". While the tests both show very comparable flow rates and electrical consumption for the pump, the dual suction line test shows slightly better flow numbers that this test with only a single suction line. In both tests the pressure side (return line) is only a single 1.5" pipe and so this would represent a system with a high resistance to flow. Most pools will have more than a single return line and thus the flow rates will be different for that configuration. Be sure to subscribe to the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel so you see the continuation of these variable speed pump bench tests.
Pentair SuperFlo Variable Speed Test
Voltage - 240 Volts
Suction Line - Single 2"
Return Line - Single 1.5"
750 RPM
Flow Rate - 13 GPM
Current Draw - 0.90 Amps
Power Consumption - 91 Watts
1000 RPM
Flow Rate - 16 GPM
Current Draw - 1.03 Amps
Power Consumption - 134 Watts
1250 RPM
Flow Rate - 27 GPM
Current Draw - 1.18 Amps
Power Consumption - 190 Watts
1500 RPM
Flow Rate - 35 GPM
Current Draw - 1.43 Amps
Power Consumption - 268 Watts
1750 RPM
Flow Rate - 42 GPM
Current Draw - 1.82 Amps
Power Consumption - 375 Watts
2000 RPM
Flow Rate - 48 GPM
Current Draw - 2.38 Amps
Power Consumption - 515 Watts
2250 RPM
Flow Rate - 60 GPM
Current Draw - 3.11 Amps
Power Consumption - 697 Watts
2500 RPM
Flow Rate - 63 GPM
Current Draw - 4.04 Amps
Power Consumption - 914 Watts
2750 RPM
Flow Rate - 70 GPM
Current Draw - 5.20 Amps
Power Consumption - 1190 Watts
3000 RPM
Flow Rate - 77 GPM
Current Draw - 6.54 Amps
Power Consumption - 1500 Watts
3250 RPM
Flow Rate - 83 GPM
Current Draw - 8.16 Amps
Power Consumption - 1870 Watts
3450 RPM
Flow Rate - 88 GPM
Current Draw - 9.77 Amps
Power Consumption - 2250 Watts
This same bench test was recreated in the Swimming Pool Steve Test Lab this time with a 150sf cartridge filter. Watch this video to see what kind difference in flow rate and electricity use was experienced with this addition.
While these bench tests are useful for examining the electrical cost and flow potential for variable speed pool pumps it is important to note that this is only a test, and not a real swimming pool system, but more importantly every swimming pool and pump installation will be unique. You might experience numbers similar to what you see here however it is likely that your flow volumes will be slightly less due to added resistance in peripheral devices like dirty filters, pool heaters, and not to mention pools located a far distance from the pump location...all of these will affect the performance of your pump. This is why all pool owners with a variable speed pump would benefit from installing a flow meter like the ones featured in this video as this will help you to maximize your savings while being able to fine tune the amount of filtration that your pool needs. For more information you should read this article about swimming pool flow meters.
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Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool and spa specialist from Ontario Canada. With over 10,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the 2018 Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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