Unigy Prep Gun System

Revolutionary Energy Efficient Prep Gun Pump Systems
for Vehicle Washing Systems

A Unigy driven pump system consumes much less energy than a traditional pump system using a pressure regulating valve. Whereas a conventional prep gun or high pressure arch system uses a pressure regulator to maintain a constant pressure, the "idle time" or time the pump is simply in recirculation mode is a significant waste of energy. Even when the pump isn't spraying, the full pressure and flow is being generated and significant energy is being consumed.

In addition, the system is dependant upon an adjustable bypass valve to maintain system pressure. The constant on/off nature and flow through the bypass line results in regulator wear. The adjustable nature of the bypass valve enables operators to inadvertently set the regulator in a position that could lead to over pressurization of the pump; contributing to pump damage, or worse personnel or the customers vehicle.

The Unigy drive enables the delivery of instant pressure without the need for a pressure regulating valve, thereby eliminating the wear and reliability issues associated with them^†. Most importantly, it maintains the line pressure during idle periods consuming 10% of the energy required by a conventional prep gun system.

Even while spraying the Unigy system is saving the operator energy. A traditional system pumps a fixed flow rate at the set pressure and bypasses whatever isn't being sprayed. As prep guns are cycled on and off, the Unigy system instantly adjusts to operate the pump at the required flow rate and pressure. A Unigy driven system only delivers the flow required to maintain the set pressure and it accomplishes this level of control without any switches, sensors or other equipment in contact with the pipeline or flow. This energy savings adds-up over time, when you consider the energy literally being pumped away with a conventionally driven system.

Another benefit of the Unigy drive is a significantly quieter pump system. During idle periods, there is no noise; it is on and ready to provide instant pressure, but there's no noise, no bypassing, nothing. It just sits there consuming the energy equivalent of a 100 watt light bulb. Once the system is actuated, the built-in soft start feature brings the pump up to the required speed. Both the motor and pump operate significantly quieter because the flow demand is ultimately something less than the full speed flow of traditional prep gun pump systems.

Beyond being quiet, this operation significantly extends the life of the pump and motor. The built-in soft start feature of this drive minimizes motor wear characteristic of frequent starts and stops. The pump remains relatively cool because it isn't working as hard or long, which extends the time between oil changes. The valve assemblies within the pump also last considerable longer, benefiting from the decreased usage characteristic of "on demand" spraying.

System pressure is adjustable via the control panel keypad and the underlying computer provides for a host of additional performance data, messaging, fault alarms and reports. Unigy systems can be controlled remotely with a phone or data input line.

The first Unigy prep gun installation was installed at the Adirondack Carwash in Queensbury NY during November 2004. The video stream below was taken at the end of February 2006. The built-in usage recorder indicated that this system had been in operation (spraying) for 4,274 hours and idle (pressurized & waiting to spray) for 2,331 hours.

This means that a conventional system would have run for 6,605 hours, because even when in idle mode, conventional systems are still pumping at full pressure through the bypass valve.

The Unigy system has essentially reduced the energy required to operate their prep guns by 35%. More importantly, they have effectively extended the pump and motor components by 35% as well.

In 15 months of operation they haven't had to perform any pump maintenance. No oil changes, no pump or motor repair and NO DOWNTIME.

From an OEM perspective the Unigy system offers something else, guaranteed easy start-up as the programming of the drive prevents the pump from being abused. The pump cannot be over pressurized, run beyond the recommended maximum RPM, run dry or with a poor inlet condition. These are common occurrences that result in downtime, repair costs and wasted time "troubleshooting" poor performing pumps.

Unigy drive systems can be retrofitted to existing pump systems and one control panel can operate multiple pumps simultaneously.

VIDEO CLIP INSTRUCTIONS: These are mouse activated video clips; pass cursor over one clip at a time, dragging the cursor off the image that is running. Moving the cursor from the clip after it ends will start the clip again; passing over clips without waiting for them to end will run them simultaneously

Note the instant, smooth pressure. Since this system was installed, the Unigy system has been programmed to further reduce the pump and motor noise	This is the D10 in the lab with quiet current quiet drive feature, operating at about 2 GPM at 500 PSI	This is the non liquid filled gauge - note how smooth the flow is!	Cat pumps can be operated with a Unigy drive also, this one is operated at 3400 PSI in the lab

3 GPM System	Dual High Flow Skid System
20 GPM System
35 GPM System

^† Installation of a pressure relief valve is always recommended in the event an operator overrides the performance settings

	T.P.S., Inc. Columbia NJ 07860
	Phone: 908.496.9020	Fax: 908.496.8080	inquiry@fluidproducts.com