Pump Voltage

[JasonBoyd]

We're based out of Florida and have always used Flygt or EMU pumps in our lift station designs. They are all 230v and this has never been an issue until recently. Now a local municipality is telling us they require 240v pumps and will not except 230v pumps.

Electrical engineering is not my forte but it has always been my understanding that 230v and 240v may as well be equivalent. I have been told that the supplied voltage can fluctuate as much as 5% and that the pumps can handle the rated voltage +/- 10% so a 230v pump should have no problems with a 240v supply.

The lady I spoke with at the municipality is new and it seems to me like she is not applying any common sense to local code which does specify 240v. Am I way off base in thinking that this is ridiculous? Can anybody shed some light on this subject for me. Also, in case I'm wrong or they don't care can anybody recommend some pump manufacturers that make 240v pumps.

 

[cvg]

have the pump supplier certify that his pump is 100% compatible with the incoming line voltage and require minimum efficiency on both the motor and the pump at the rated flows. If they can do this, than what's the rub?

 

[jgailla]

I don't know anything about electricity, but I had a similar situation on a job last year. I spoke to the electrical engineer on the project about the difference between 230 and 240V (which is similar to a 460V getting a 480V feed). There will be slight variations in the actual voltage supplied by a 240V feed to the motor. Electric motors are always designed to run at slightly lower than the design feed to account for this difference. I'm guessing you will not find a 240V motor, because they only make 230V. Bottom line is, if the reviewer is intransigent, you may have to get a Flygt rep to call and explain or go over the reviewer to a supervisor. The reviewer is certainly wrong.

 

[JasonBoyd]

Thanks for the help. After speaking with her again she has dropped the issue.

 

[bimr]

In NA, the terms 220V, 230V, and 240V all refer to the same system voltage level. Generally, this difference is inconsequential, as most motors are built to tolerate current a certain percentage above or below the rated voltage.