Hi Phil. I wish you all the best. I watched the videos and looked at the specs. While it does have some good features, I don't see it any different than a couple dozen other VFD type booster systems already on the market. I remember the Hays Pump from the mid 90's. It was one of the first residential size VFD's systems on the market. They had "predictive PID algorithms" and all that stuff as well. The most recent one I have seen is the Scala, which replaced the Grundfos MQ discussed previously in this thread. Every few months electronic technology gets better and they think the new "algorithms" will solve all the previous problems. So every 18 months or so there is a new version (Generation 11 or something) hits the market. And every 18 months or so the last generation is no longer available. In the 25 years or so I have been keeping up with it I think Generation 11 or 12 is about right.
Here are my observations on the perfect pump. Very few VFD systems use a flow switch anymore. They all use a pressure transducer like the one attached above the check valve. And I know they say "tankless", but a little tank would give the VFD some time to react. That way you wouldn't see the pressure gauge dip from 80 to 60 PSI as fast, like it does in the video, which by the way is not really constant pressure. There is only one size pump, and one size does not fit all I am afraid. It will only boost incoming pressure, not lift from a well, or draw from a cistern. Not mixing the air sounds like a cool way to keep bugs and lint out of the electronics, but it will still need to be kept in a fairly cool environment. In a little enclosed space or sitting out in the desert sun I think it will overheat like all VFD's do. And it says it will do 22 GPM at 40 PSI using a 2HP VFD on a 1.5 HP motor. A good 1HP regular jet pump will pump more water than that.
But like I said, I wish you the best. I'm all for it. It does show that a big pressure tank is no longer needed and teaches how important constant pressure can be to the pressure in the house. And once you've gone constant pressure you will never go back to the old big pressure tank type system.
Thank you for your comments, I will try to address some of them here:
1) The pump comes in TWO sizes, not one. up to 31 GPM, 2 hp. It will cover 95% of all residences. We also have a 3 and 5 hp in development and later a duplex for condos.
2) Many VFD systems DO use a flow switch. The Scalia 2 is a good example. Other industrial boosters, I can name a dozen, use inferior low /no flow algorithms. Some use motor current or motor frequency to determine when there is no flow. Both of these methods do NOT work reliably because the point a pump stops flowing changes with the suction so either the pump will continue to run in certain suction scenarios burning the pump out or it will cycle on/off excessively effecting system life and performance.
Other companies simply look at pump temperature and turn off the pump when it gets too hot. Kind of like having a smoke detector for a current limit control.
3) No one has our predictive PID algorithms, Which a much lower performance version of it won the ASPE innovations award in Chicago in 2011. Ours are advanced and are used in the most prestigious high rise buildings in the world. We have been developing this algorithm for the past ten years so we know it works and works well. Lower performance versions of it are actually being used in hundreds of high rise buildings around the world. One such building was 106 stories, the building engineer would pre-charge the system over a period of 5 minutes going from 50 PSI to 475 PSI. Our algorithm did it in 15 seconds with only 3 PSI overshoot! People are still talking about that. Plus when the pressure is at set-point, no longer do pipes jingle, jangle, jingle on the hangers. Pipes are perfectly still because there is NO hunting like most other "predictive PID" algorithms.
4) Our response is 1 second from suction pressure of 40 PSI to discharge of 75 PSI (capped at that). Why do you care if the pressure takes 1 second to reach pressure? Everyone knows when you get in a shower or turn on a faucet, 1 second response is nothing. Plus you get the added advantage of ramping and controlling the pressure, prolonging the fixtures. The small deviation you get for example in the video was with a toilet AND two sinks additionally running. Look at the suction in the video, it's at 20 PSI! We did this intentionally to show we actually do what we spec. 42 PSI boost at 22 GPM. That's the SMALL unit. If you set the pressure to 60 PSI vs 75 PSI you would have much less deviation. 55-60 PSI is typically all you need.
5) We do NOT need a flow switch, unlike most of our competitors, we developed a no flow algorithm that knows when to turn the pump off without the high maintenance flow sensor which usually is a pin wheel that spins. This pinwheel always ends up getting clogged with minerals, Teflon tape, pipe dope, etc. This algorithm is SO accurate it can detect flows down to 1/4 GPM.
6) The drive unlike most competitors is 100% powder coated aluminum. Meaning the entire VFD is a heat sink. We have an internal fan that moves air around when needed but even in Florida, we never have seen this fan operate, especially when we use our Sun shield.
7) We have no plastic. Plastic will always crack in sun light. ALWAYS. We have no digital keypad. Keypads and membranes will always fail in Sunlight. Always.
5) Our all stainless steel check valve is external and easily taken apart to be cleaned. Check valves are the highest maintenance items behind bladder tanks and then pump seals. We give the customer the ability to take it off, take it apart, clean the seal and reinstall. A 20 minute job instead of most competitors needing to have the entire pump taken apart.
6) Our pump seal can be replaced in less than 10 minutes. and there are only two. Unlike multistage pumps that have several and are very hard to replace.
7) Our algorithm allows the pump to leak down to suction when demand is not needed. Saving energy from all competitors that keep the pressure high and cycle. This is the REAL reason they use bladder tanks, to lower the pump cycling while the system leaks down, and they all leak down over time. Our system keeps the pump off for weeks or even months at a time if on vacation for example, who cares what the house pressure is when there is no demand?
You are correct about pulling from a well or cistern, the pump needs positive suction but we intended it to boost a wells pump, not replace it.
All the best to you sir. Sounds like you have a good grasp on boosters. Great conversations!