The FlowFriend is far ahead in terms of pumping water energy-efficiently. The FlowFriend already today meets the highest MEI category of over 0.7. The MEI - Minimum Efficiency Index - category is related to the efficiency of the motor, as well as the pump’s hydraulics and a directive was developed in 2012 to mandate the energy efficiency of water pumps.

To underline this extraordinary accomplishment: the EU has mandated a minimum MEI of 0.4 as compulsory effective July 2014.
 
 
The FlowFriend Series:
extremely energy efficient
standard  ow/rpm controls
optional 0-10V control
high flows at low energy consumption
extremely quiet
a highly efficient new generation of permanent magnet motor
3 different optimised pump housings, cast completely of stainless steel grade 316
optimal adjustment for versatile application
a premium efficiency IE4 motor
can be used anywhere in the world ranging from 100-240V/50-60Hz
 
The motor speed (600-2,550 rpm) can be adjusted as standard with every type of FlowFriend. The pump includes a display for this purpose that also shows power consumption and hours of operation. Every FlowFriend can also be controlled externally via an optional 0-10V port.
 
The major benefit of permanent magnet motors compared to frequency-controlled asynchronous motors is the remarkably high efficiency at low rpm. However, even at higher rpm, these pumps are significantly more efficient.

Ingenious pump housings
A pump’s hydraulics consist of the pump’s rotor and the pump’s housing. The FlowFriend’s hydraulics are entirely made of cast 316 stainless steel. Robust, smooth and a perfect shape to keep internal losses to a minimum.
 
The hydraulics:
determine the pump’s total efficiency for the large part
determine the pump’s suitability for a particular use
 
FlowFriend PRO
This Axial-flow (propeller) pump has a low pump lift and large water volume. For example, at 0,5 MWC, a capacity of 50m3/h is available at a consumption of 200 watts. The FlowFriend PRO has a suction/pressure connection of no less than 12 mm in order to minimise the internal pump by this means. The PRO can deal with significantly higher pressure than so-called 'air-lift' based systems, and the PRO is outstandingly flexible in use on account of its adjustability. Uses are multi-chamber, moving bed and drum filters. Plus they are popular in recirculation systems in fish farms
 
 Motor and seal
The FlowFriend has a very high-quality Eagle Burgmann shaft seal. The motor has been designed in-house and is manufactured by one of Germany’s largest and most important producers of electrical motors. The motor’s efficiency, depending on the RPMs, is between 88 and 94%.
 
Dry-running or submersible pumps
The FlowFriend is a dry-running pump with a sealed shaft. This technology is superior from an energy and safety perspective to submersible pumps (in which the pump’s shaft rotates in water). This is why almost all pumps used for industrial applications are pumps with a sealed shaft. As with dry running pumps, the shaft and the stator are positioned extremely close to each other, they have significantly lower energy loss in operation by comparison with submersible pumps. Submersible pumps always require a compromise. If the distance between the stator and the shaft is very small, there is a high risk of damage due to dirt that is stuck between the shaft and the stator. However, as this distance increases, the pump’s energy losses increase quadratically.
If the stator in a submersible pump becomes damaged, direct contact between the core (with voltages exceeding 300V) and the water is possible. This is why a submersible pump is not recommended for applications in which people touch the water or swim in it.
 
The result
The pump’s performance can best be shown by means of pump graphs and specifications. The pump was tested at a testing facility that is compliant with the NEN-EN-ISO 9906 standard. The pump meets the European Directive 2009/125/EC (ecodesign requirements for water pumps).