Pump Control Panels & Vessels
Tricel provides pump control panels and vessel solutions for commercial, industrial and building-services applications, helping manage pump operation, pressure stability and system requirements as part of a coordinated pumping installation. From single- and multi-pump control panels to pressure and expansion vessels, our team can help identify the appropriate arrangement for your application.
01
Control Panel & Vessel Solutions
Different pumping systems require different combinations of control and pressure-management equipment. The solution should be selected around the pump arrangement, hydraulic duty and application.
Single-Pump Control Panels
Automatic Pump Control
SYSTEM
One pump
ROLE
Automatic start, stop and protection
CONTROL
Pressure, level or another signal
Single-pump panels provide the electrical control needed to operate and protect an individual pump. Depending on the application, operation may be based on pressure, level or another system signal.
Multi-Pump Control Panels
Coordinated Pump Control
SYSTEM
Two or more pumps
ROLE
Duty/standby, alternation or staged running
CONTROL
System demand and pump status
Multi-pump panels manage systems where two or more pumps operate together. Depending on the agreed control strategy, this may include duty/standby, alternation, staged operation or pump sequencing.
Pressure Vessels
Water Pressure Management
SYSTEM
Water supply and boosting
ROLE
Stabilises pressure; reduces pump starts
CONTROL
Works with the pump pressure control
Pressure vessels form part of water-supply and pressure-boosting systems, helping stabilise pressure and reduce unnecessary pump starts. A vessel supports the booster set; it is not a booster system on its own.
Expansion Vessels
Sealed HVAC System Expansion
SYSTEM
Sealed heating and chilled water
ROLE
Absorbs thermal expansion
CONTROL
Passive; no control signal
Expansion vessels take up the change in system-water volume as temperature changes in sealed heating and chilled-water circuits. Many systems also need a pressurisation unit to top up and hold pressure.
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Grundfos Pressure & Expansion Vessel Technology
The Grundfos GT range includes pressure tanks for cold-water and pressure-management duties and dedicated vessels for heating and cooling. Each type is suited to specific applications, so not every GT tank suits every system.
Grundfos GT-U & GT-U+
Vertical Bladder Pressure Tanks
FUNCTION
Pressure tank
USED FOR
Cold water and boosting; GT-U+ also suits selected heating and chilled-water duties
CONSTRUCTION
Bladder; replaceable on GT-U+
GT-U and GT-U+ are vertical bladder-type pressure tanks. GT-U is for cold water and is not recommended for heating or chilled water. GT-U+ has a replaceable bladder and is listed by Grundfos for heating and chilled water as well as cold water.
Grundfos GT-D
Double-Diaphragm Pressure Tank
FUNCTION
Pressure tank
USED FOR
Cold water and grey water; not heating or chilled water
CONSTRUCTION
Double diaphragm
GT-D is a double-diaphragm pressure tank intended for suitable cold-water and grey-water applications. Grundfos does not recommend it for heating or chilled water.
Grundfos GT-H
Diaphragm Pressure Tank
FUNCTION
Pressure tank
USED FOR
Cold water and grey water; not heating or chilled water
CONSTRUCTION
Diaphragm; vertical or horizontal versions
GT-H is a diaphragm pressure tank for suitable cold-water and grey-water applications, available in vertical and horizontal versions. Grundfos does not recommend it for heating or chilled water.
Grundfos GT-HR
Heating & Cooling Expansion Vessel
FUNCTION
Expansion vessel
USED FOR
Closed heating and chilled-water systems; not drinking water
CONSTRUCTION
Fixed (non-replaceable) diaphragm
GT-HR is the expansion-vessel range within the Grundfos GT family, for closed heating and chilled-water systems. It is not recommended for drinking water.
Panels & Vessels Designed Around the System
More Than Individual Components
A control panel or vessel should not be selected in isolation.
The correct arrangement depends on the pump configuration, hydraulic duty, operating pressure, system volume, control strategy and application.
Tricel considers the pumps, controls and associated vessels as one coordinated pumping system.
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Control Panel & Vessel Applications
Pressure Boosting
Control panels and pressure vessels for commercial water-pressure boosting.
Sealed Heating Systems
Expansion-vessel arrangements for closed commercial heating circuits.
Chilled-Water Systems
Expansion and pressure-management equipment for sealed cooling circuits.
Wastewater & Drainage
Single- and multi-pump control panels for level-controlled wastewater systems.
Packaged Pump Systems
Controls and vessels as part of complete packaged pumping systems.
Industrial Pump Systems
Project-specific panel and vessel arrangements for suitable industrial duties.
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Choosing the Right Control Panel & Vessel
To recommend a panel and vessel arrangement, our team needs to understand the pumps, the system and how it should operate.
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Factor
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What we need to know
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Pump arrangement
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One pump or multiple pumps?
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Operating strategy
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How should the pumps start, stop, alternate or operate together?
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Control signal
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Pressure, level or another system condition?
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Application
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Pressure boosting, HVAC, wastewater or another duty?
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System pressure
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What working and design pressures apply?
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System volume
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For expansion applications, what is the approximate system-water volume?
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Vessel function
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Pressure boosting, expansion or another defined function?
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Fluid
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What liquid will contact the vessel?
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Installation space
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Is a vertical or horizontal vessel preferable?
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Monitoring
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What alarms, status signals or communication are required?
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05
Control Panel & Vessel Functions
Panels and vessels do different jobs. Each system includes only the functions its pumps and application need.
Automatic Pump Operation
The panel starts and stops pumps according to pressure, level or another system condition.
Duty / Standby Control
In multi-pump panels, a standby pump can take over on fault, and duty can alternate between pumps where required.
Pump Protection & Alarms
Faults and abnormal conditions can be indicated, with protective action where the panel provides it.
Pressure Stabilisation
A pressure vessel stores water under pressure, smoothing pressure changes and reducing pump starts.
Thermal Expansion
An expansion vessel absorbs the increase in water volume as a sealed heating or cooling circuit warms.
System Integration
Panels and vessels are selected with the pumps, so the components work as one system.
Controls, Alarms & Monitoring
Depending on the panel, status and fault information may include:
Pump run status
Pump fault
High / low level
Pressure condition
Duty / standby status
Common alarm
Signals vary by panel and are agreed during design. Where BMS, SCADA or advanced communication is required, see electrical control systems.
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From Selection to Commissioning
01
Understand
Review the pumps, application, duty and current equipment, including a site survey of existing installations.
02
Design & Specify
Select the panel configuration, vessel type and supporting components.
03
Supply & Integrate
Supply the panel, vessels and associated equipment and integrate them into the pump system.
04
Commission & Support
Install, set up and test the system, with ongoing service and maintenance where required.
Replace or Upgrade Existing Panels & Vessels
Existing pump installations may need a replacement control panel, pressure vessel, expansion vessel or wider upgrade as equipment ages or system requirements change. Tricel carries out site surveys of existing pump installations to review the pump duty, panel arrangement, vessel condition, system pressure and application before replacement equipment is selected, followed by installation, commissioning and service and maintenance.
Looking for Electrical Control Systems?
Control panels & vessels (this page)
Physical pump control panels, single- and multi-pump arrangements, pressure vessels, expansion vessels and system integration.
Electrical control systems
Variable-speed drives, intelligent controllers, automation, pump sequencing, sensing, BMS/SCADA and communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a pump control panel do?
A pump control panel houses the electrical equipment that operates and protects one or more pumps. Depending on the system, it may start and stop pumps automatically, alternate duty between pumps, and indicate faults or alarm conditions.
What is a pressure vessel used for?
In water-supply and pressure-boosting systems, a pressure vessel stores a small volume of water under pressure. This helps stabilise system pressure and reduces how often the pumps need to start.
What is an expansion vessel?
An expansion vessel is fitted to a sealed heating or chilled-water circuit to absorb the change in water volume as the water heats and cools, limiting the rise in system pressure.
What is the difference between a pressure vessel and an expansion vessel?
A pressure vessel supports pump operation in water-supply and boosting systems. An expansion vessel accommodates thermal expansion in a closed heating or cooling circuit. They do different jobs and are selected differently, so one should not be used in place of the other without checking the manufacturer’s application data.
Which Grundfos vessels are suitable for heating and cooling?
In the Grundfos GT range, GT-HR is the expansion vessel for closed heating and chilled-water systems, and GT-U+ is also listed for heating and chilled water. GT-U, GT-D and GT-H are not recommended by Grundfos for heating or chilled water.
Can Tricel size a pressure or expansion vessel?
Vessel selection depends on system pressure, system volume, the fluid and the application. Tell our team about your system and we can advise on suitable vessels as part of the wider pumping system.
Pump Control Panels & Vessels in Ireland
Tricel supplies pump controls and associated vessels for commercial, industrial and building-services pumping applications across Ireland. Our engineers specify, supply, install, service and maintain pumps and their control systems, and recent projects have included booster sets, pressurisation units and expansion vessels.
Solutions can include single- and multi-pump control arrangements together with pressure or expansion vessels selected for the wider pumping system. Pressure vessels typically support pressure boosting sets; expansion vessels typically work alongside pressurisation units in sealed heating and cooling systems.
The current Grundfos GT range provides vessel options for cold-water, pressure-management, heating and cooling applications, while Tricel’s pump team can assess the overall system and help identify an appropriate configuration. For an overview of all control options, see pump controls.
Need a Control Panel or Vessel?
Tell our team about your pumps, application, system pressure, operating arrangement and vessel requirements, and we can help identify an appropriate solution.
Call +353 (0)64 668 8040 or email watersales@tricel.ie