Cycle Stop Valve CSV3B

What are Cycle Stop Valves?

The Cycle Stop Valve is a patented pump control valve that makes a variable flow, constant pressure pump out of most standard, constant speed pumps.

Installed between the pump and your water system, the Cycle Stop Valve(CSV) automatically chokes back the output of a pump to match the usersdemand for water.

As the gallons per minute decrease, the amperage draw decreases as well because it is the weight of the water that determines the horse power or amperage needed, not the pressure.

The CSV maintains a constant pressure for the water user when demand iswithin the recommended range for the valve model being used.

It is completely mechanical and pressure actuated. No electricity required. Constant speed pumps are now capable of providing constant pressure in variable demand situations without expensive controls, huge pressure tanks, or water towers. Pumps equipped with a CSV can operate safely from as low as 1 gpm to as much as the pump can produce.

The CSV stops pump cycling, eliminates water hammer, extends pump life, andreduces energy costs compared to a system allowed to cycle off and on excessively when demand varies.

Back Pressure?

As counter intuitive as it may seem, increasing back pressure does not make pumps work harder. Onehorse power is the measure of power it takes to lift 33,000 pounds of weight (or 3,750 gallons) one ft in oneminute. Gallons and weight are the same thing to the pump. If flow from the pump is restricted with a valve,back pressure will increase. As back pressure increases, gallons or weight decreases. As the weight or gallonsof water being lifted by the pump decreases, so does power consumption, amps, or horse power. Excess backpressure is a free by-product of horsepower. Back pressure makes pumps pull less amperage, not more. Lessamperage means motors run cooler, use less electricity, and last longer.

Minimum Flow?

While Cycle Stop Valves will increase back pressure on pumps when needed, they will never let theback pressure increase to complete shut off head. The Cycle Stop Valve can never completely close. There isalways water flowing through the valve even when in its fully closed position. This flow is derived from theminimum cooling requirements of the pump and motor. Large submersible pumps can operate on much smallerflows than .5 ft per second. Flow charts for motors running at FULL LOAD AMPERAGE are not relevant formotors pulling an average 60% of full load. As back pressure increases until the pump is only pumping minimumflow, amperage decreases, derating the motor. When pulling only 50 to 60% of full load, the derated motorcan safely pump hot water up to 140 degrees according to the charts. If a derated motor can safely pump anyamount of 140 degree water, then a tiny amount of cool water (86 degrees or less) will easily prevent themotor from overheating. Minimum cooling charts for derated motors have not been made available by themotor manufactures. Years of experience has proven many times over that motors such as a 50 HP sub willdrop from 77 amps to about 40 amps when the pump is restricted to 5 gpm flow. This 5 gpm flow of 70degree water going past the motor will increase in temperature to 78 degrees. Seventy eight degrees is noteven close to 131 degree water that the charts say can safely cool a 50 HP motor when derated by 40%. Fullspeed turbines and centrifugal pumps can operate at even lower minimum flows as their motors are cooled byair. Motor and cooling fan are still spinning at full RPM, which will keep a motor that is only pulling 60% of fullload amps very cool.

Resting Pumps and Motors?

Pumps and motors are designed for continuous operation and do not need to rest. This means theywill last longer if they run continuously than if they “cycle” off and on. Motors that are coasting along at lowamperage 24 hours a day will use less electricity than the same motor pulling full load and cycling on and offevery 10 minutes or so. Most motor and pump failures occur during start up. Starting current can be sixtimes normal running amperage. Start up tests every component of the pump and motor. Windings, bearings,shafts, impellers, splines, couplings, panels, even the generator at the power company are all tested each timea pump starts. All of these problems go away once the motor is up and running. Common sense would suggestthat the fewer times it starts and stops, the longer a motor and pump will last.

Soft Start Equipment?

Some electric companies require soft starts on larger horse power systems. Cycle Stop Valves willcompletely eliminate water hammer with or without electrical soft start equipment and will also provide thesame no load start up comparable to any electrical soft start equipment. This will reduce the electric bill if ademand charge is included.

Cavitation?

Restricting the discharge from a pump with any valve will decrease the NPSH required.The NPSH available will increase as the flow rate decreases. Increasing the NPSHA and/or decreasingthe NPSHR reduces the chance of cavitation. Recirculating water from the outlet to theinlet of an impeller can occur at low flow. The 5 GPM bypass exiting the Cycle Stop Valve will keepthis recirculating from heating up the pump. Cavitation like wear can occur if the pump chosen hasa recirculating problem such as with a loose-fitting wear ring. Pumps that are made of materialswith a high tensile strength are more resistant to wear from cavitation. When equipped with anadditional pressure sustain pilot the Cycle Stop Valve can also control cavitation at high flow ratesby limiting the maximum flow from the pump.