The numerous technical innovations resulted in 27 patent applications. The following three are particularly noteworthy.
In 2017, the Wilo-Stratos MAXO marked Wilo's entry into the future of pump technology – with the first smart-pump* in the world. With innovative energy-saving functions and control modes, it achieves maximum system efficiency. Maximum compatibility and direct pump networking with existing systems is also a matter of course for the world's first smart-pump.
From simple installation and user-friendly configuration, maximum system efficiency and all the way to progressive interconnection options, Wilo-Stratos MAXO set new standards.
The concept of the Wilo-Stratos MAXO unites the following fundamentally novel features:
excellent convenience of electrical installation thanks to a clear and easily accessible terminal room and the optimised Wilo-Connector (for easily connecting the pump to the power grid without using tools)
intuitive operation thanks to application-guided adjustment with the Setup Guide combined with a new clear display and an operating concept with green button technology
highest levels of energy efficiency thanks to the interaction between optimised and innovative energy-saving pumps (for example, the No-Flow Stop switches the pump off automatically when there is no flow)
optimum system efficiency thanks to new and intelligent innovative control functions, such as Dynamic Adapt plus and Multi-Flow Adaptation (see section “Patent application for Multi-Flow Adaptation”)
state-of-the-art communications interfaces such as Bluetooth for connecting to mobile devices and direct pump connection via Wilo Net for controlling multiple pumps
Commissioning assistant: Setup Guide
Patent application for a novel operating concept: Setup Guide
In order to adjust a pump, the specialist had to know a number of key properties of the system on the basis of which they had to calculate or estimate which type of control to select and to which setpoint they had to set the pump. This was a real challenge in the case of existing systems in particular because there was no sufficient documentation in most cases, for example on the pipe lengths and cross-sections. As a result, the fitter was often not able to solve this task properly. The Wilo-Stratos MAXO provided a different approach to the issue in the form of the Setup Guide.
It guides the user through the commissioning process with questions such as “Is the pump used in a system for heating or for cooling?” or “Is the system in question radiator heating or underfloor heating?”. The pump uses this information to calculate the optimum control type and a suitable setpoint. The special feature of this procedure is that the dynamic control parameters, i.e. how quickly or slowly the controller responds to changes, can be preset properly.
For example, the pump must react much more quickly in cooling applications than in heating applications. The user need not worry about all this anymore because the pump makes these presettings, some of which are highly complex. Wilo engineers were able to create this solution because the company had built up the corresponding application expertise over many years. The insights regarding how the pump should be adjusted in different applications resulted from numerous building simulations. This procedure allows Wilo to use a computer to simulate all types of buildings and systems and conduct several hundred series of simulations to find the optimum solution.
Commissioning assistant: Setup Guide
one-click commissioning with factory settings (heating – radiator – Dynamic Adapt plus)
date and time are already preset
setup assistant for the application-specific setup of the pump function (guided selection of the correct control function)
one-click commissioning with factory settings for the Stratos MAXO-Z with T-const temperature (application: drinking water circulation)
A large colour display assists with intuitive operation.
Heat dissipation via cooling fins tilted by 45°
Patent application for cooling fin design
Installing the pump vertically or horizontally has been possible – and necessary, depending on the installation situation – for many years. The previous designs (Wilo- TOP-E, Wilo-Stratos) encountered a problem with cooling the electronic module in the case of horizontal installation.
Since the cooling fins were previously arranged vertically, cooling was excellent in the case of vertical installation, but limited in the case of horizontal installation. This is a result of the stack effect that was utilised, which causes the hot air to rise upwards through the cooling fins. This air transport was blocked in the case of horizontal cooling fins. With the Wilo-Stratos MAXO, this challenge was solved by tilting the cooling fins by 45 degrees. This trick ensured that the electronics were cooled in every installation position.
Patent application for Multi-Flow Adaptation
Systems in larger buildings are often designed with a primary and a secondary circuit. The primary circuit is very often operated with one pump (feeder pump), whereas the secondary circuit is frequently operated with multiple pumps. For energy-related reasons, it is particularly beneficial if the primary pump pumps as much water as all secondary pumps combined. This is connected with what is known as the hydraulic shunt, which is usually used to separate the primary and secondary circuits.
Up to now, extensive sensor systems and control technology from the system manufacturer had to be used in order to achieve energy optimisation. The Wilo-Stratos MAXO is the first pump that can solve this task with control intelligence integrated in the pump and without additional sensor systems.
To this end, the pumps are connected via data link. The pumps then exchange information on the volume flows at short intervals. The feeder pump then supplies a volume flow that corresponds to the sum of all volume flows of the secondary circuit pumps. This novel energy-saving solution is appreciated by consultants in particular and is a truly unique feature of the Wilo-Stratos MAXO.
Principle of Multi-Flow Adaptation
* By a smart-pump we mean a new category of pumps that goes far beyond our high-efficiency pumps or pumps with pump intelligence. The combination of the latest sensor technology and innovative control functions (e.g. Dynamic Adapt plus and Multi-Flow Adaptation), bi-directional connectivity (e.g. Bluetooth, integrated analogue inputs, binary inputs and outputs, interface to the Wilo Net), updating through software updates and excellent user-friendliness (e.g. thanks to the Setup Guide, preview principle for anticipatory navigation and the proven Green Button Technology) make this pump a smart-pump.