Understanding Pump Efficiency and its Impact on Energy Costs

Pump Efficiency

When purchasing a pump, it is important to ascertain how efficiently it converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Energy costs are rising the world over and businesses across the board need to streamline and improve their operational efficiency. VEMC is a leading Kirloskar pump distributor based in Mumbai, and in this blog, we tell you all about pump efficiency and its impact on your energy costs.

How pump efficiency measures the conversion of electrical energy into hydraulic power

Pump efficiency indicates how well a pump can convert electrical energy into hydraulic power, that is, the power delivered by the fluid that is being pumped. This can be better represented by the following equation:

η = Hydraulic Power Output

      ––––––––––––––––––––        

          Electrical Power Input

(Where η stands for pump efficiency)

Low efficiency means high energy costs

Low pump efficiency has a direct correlation with high energy costs. This is because of the following reasons:

  1. Heat loss: Low-efficiency pumps lose a significant part of their energy as heat rather than hydraulic power.
  2. Higher consumption: If the pump is less efficient, more amount of electric energy is consumed to perform the same amount of work, that is, pumping the fluid.
  3. Environmental impact: Less efficient pumps contribute to more emissions and the resulting climate change.
  4. System design alterations: Systems that use less efficient pumps may require electrical systems of a larger capacity to provide the necessary power.

Use high-efficiency pumps to reduce your energy bills

As energy costs rise sharply, users across the world are looking for energy-efficient options to switch over to. High-efficiency pumps are highly recommended to reduce your energy bills over a period of time. This is because:

  1. High-efficiency pumps reduce energy consumption.
  2. These pumps are more sustainable and have a lower impact on the environment.
  3. These pumps are typically reliable, have a longer working life, lower downtime and require less maintenance.
  4.  Many local and national governments offer incentives such as rebates on electricity bills if you install high-efficiency pumps.
  5. These pumps are made with advanced technology and thus have a greater potential for savings.

How to choose a high-efficiency pump

When buying a pump, look for High Energy Star ratings or other efficiency ratings which indicate higher levels of efficiency. Some of the globally renowned standards of efficiency are:

  1. Energy Star Certification by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  2. CEE (Consortium for Energy Efficiency) Tier Ratings
  3. EU (European Union) Energy Label
  4. ASHRAE 90.1 Standards
  5. ISO 5199
  6. Hydraulic Institute Standards
  7. Pump Efficiency Index (PEI)

When choosing a pump, look for both initial costs and the lifecycle costs. The latter especially includes the amount of energy the pump is expected to consume over its working life. For more on how to choose a high-efficiency pump, get in touch with VEMC by calling us at 022 43436655 or emailing us at marketing@vemc.co.in. We are the leading Kirloskar pump distributor based in Mumbai with over 70 years of experience in pumping.