Grundfos Pumps Unveils New Generation of Circulators,With Power‐Consumption Savings of up to 80% or more

Intended for residential and light‐commercial hydronic applications, ALPHA™ featuresthe innovative AUTOADAPT™ function that automatically and continuously adjustscirculator performance to the changing needs of the hydronic heating system.

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OLATHE, KANSAS (May 19, 2009) —Making its North American debut, ALPHA fromGrundfos Pumps is an energy‐optimized, 115‐volt circulatorfeaturing a permanent magnet motor design that will cut powerconsumption by a minimum of 50%, as compared with othercirculators in its class. Designed for hydronic heating applications inresidential and light‐commercial applications, the compact ALPHA isequipped with the unique Grundfos AUTOADAPT function thatautomatically modulates circulator performance to match everchangingsystem demand.

“By continuously fine‐tuning power consumption and flow rates to meet the dynamic needs of the system,ALPHA saves both energy and money,” says Bob Reinmund, senior product specialist for Grundfos. “In livefield tests of the product, independent contractors have experienced power savings up to 80% overconventional pumps.”

Breakthrough motor design: First used by Grundfos in Europe earlier this decade, the electronicallycontrolled motor features a magnetized rotor, thus avoiding motor‐slippage problems common toinduction‐type motors. The result is a dramatically more efficient motor that generates less heat andenergy waste, while delivering a starting torque four times higher than a standard induction motor—akey feature should the circulator experience long periods of idleness.

No more oversized retrofits: Identifying the specific, ever‐changing needs of a home heating system canbe a challenging task for installers, particularly in retrofit applications. As a consequence, contractors oftenfind it difficult to select the right pump and then to program it with the correct settings. “If the installer isnot familiar with piping layout, he may decide the best way to avoid a callback is simply to oversize thepumps,” says Reinmund. “ALPHA creates a colossal opportunity to address this oversizing tendency.”

With ALPHA, the installer now has the option of activating the AUTOADAPT function. “The circulator willautomatically find the lowest possible operating‐efficiency point to meet changing system demand,”continues Reinmund. “Then it will continuously adjust that setting to achieve optimal comfort at minimalpower consumption—all without direct human intervention. The pump can operate with an input as lowas five watts, as compared with a minimum of 80 watts for a conventional circulator of comparable size.”

Compact design = easy installation: ALPHA is currently the most compact circulator offered by Grundfos.Rather than being attached to the circulator’s body, its sophisticated electronics are fully integrated withinthe motor. The resulting streamlined design simplifies installation in even the tightest of spaces.The easy‐to‐read LED (light‐emitting diode) display in the ALPHA offers a range of unique, user‐friendlyfeatures for monitoring the system:

A large, real‐time display indicates energy consumption (Watts).
This same display will toggle every four seconds between power consumption and the flowindicator, showing the relative estimated flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM).
A one‐touch, button‐type interface permits the user to toggle quickly and easily among sevendifferent hydraulic operating modes: three fixed speeds, three levels of constant pressure, and theAUTOADAPT setting.

ALPHA offers a flow range of 0 to 21 GPM and a head range from 0 to 19 feet. It can handle fluidtemperatures from 36°F to 230°F with a maximum working pressure of 150 pounds per square inch (psi).

Other standard features include:

Plug‐and‐play convenience: The unique ALPHA Plug eliminates the need to open and wire aterminal box to create an electrical connection. A six‐foot‐long power cord connects the circulatorto a wall outlet, with no wiring required.
Installer‐friendly pipe connections: The circulator’s volute has a standard two‐bolt flange with abuilt‐in nut‐capture feature that holds the bolt steady during tightening. Spared from having to usea second wrench to keep the bolt from slipping or turning, the installer has a free hand to hold thecirculator in place.
Backflow prevention: An optional check valve can be integrated into the circulator duringinstallation to prevent backflow from occurring.
Two different material options: In addition to the cast‐iron and cast‐iron‐rotated models, the ALPHA is available with a stainless steel volute for more challenging, aggressive‐water environments.

Made for America: Developed in Europe nearly a decade ago, the ALPHA is a proven technology withmillions of successful, high‐efficiency installations there. But rather than assuming that the ALPHA wouldwork equally well in North America without modification, Grundfos has tested the product over the pasttwo years in approximately 200 residential installations across the United States and Canada, including many of the installers’ own homes. Feedback from these contractors has led to important adjustments inthe hydraulic design of the ALPHA “to better match the specific requirements of the North Americanmarket,” says Reinmund.

“As is our custom with a new product, we did our due diligence with the ALPHA in the United States, takingtwo full heating seasons to be certain it would perform as well here as it has in Europe,” he continues.“Our objective is to verify the ALPHA as a stable pumping platform for the North American market formany years to come.”

ABOUT GRUNDFOS
With an annual production of more than 17 million units, Grundfos is the world’s leading pump manufacturer, serving the residential, commercial-building and process-industry markets, as well as being a major supplier to the ground water, irrigation, water-supply and water-treatment industries. The company specializes in circulator pumps for heating and air conditioning as well as other centrifugal pumps for industrial applications, water supply, sewage and dosing. In addition to pumps, Grundfos also produces standard and submersible motors as well as state-of-the-art electronics for monitoring and controlling pumps.

Founded in 1945 in Bjerringbro, Denmark, The Grundfos Group employs nearly 20,000 in 82 countries on five continents worldwide, including 1,400 in the United States. A top priority on the Grundfos corporate agenda is an active commitment to improving the environment, both in terms of providing innovative pumping solutions as well as reducing the company’s own footprint. The company contributes to global sustainability by investing heavily in research and development to pioneer technologies that improve quality of life for people and care for the planet.

For more information, visit the website at www.grundfos.us or view the Grundfos Corporate Sustainability Report at http://www.grundfos.com/about-us/reports/sustainability-reports.html. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

For editorial assistance, contact: 1) John O’Reilly or Joel Williams, c/o O’Reilly/DePalma, 32 West Nebraska Street, Suite 1C, Frankfort, Illinois 60423; tel.: 815-469-9100, extension 302; fax: 815-469-2555; E-mail: john.oreilly@oreilly-depalma.com or joel.williams@oreilly-depalma.com. 2) Helen Mubarak, Communications Officer, Grundfos. Tel. 913-302-3702; E-mail: hmubarak@grundfos.com.

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