Grundfos Pump Selection by Application
A decision tree to match every common industrial water application to the right Grundfos pump family — from boiler feed to SWRO desalination to machine-tool coolant.
Grundfos makes more than 50 pump families. This guide cuts through the catalog and maps the most common industrial water applications to the right Grundfos series with size hints, material recommendations and links to the products.
Application Decision Map
| Application | Recommended Grundfos series | Size hint | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler feed (industrial) | CR / CRN 5–32 | 10–190 GPM, 200–800 ft | CR for clean deaerator, CRN if chlorides |
| RO pre-feed (city water) | CRN 3, 5, 10, 15 | 18–92 GPM, 200–500 ft | CRN (316L) |
| Brackish-water RO high-pressure | CRN 15, 20, 32, 45 | 90–260 GPM, 500–800 ft | CRN (316L) |
| Seawater RO (SWRO) | BM / BM hp | 18–1350 GPM, up to 1450 psi | 316L / 904L / Duplex |
| Commercial pressure boosting | CRE 5, 10, 15 + Hydro MPC | 30–150 GPM constant pressure | CR / CRI per chloride spec |
| HVAC chilled/condenser water | CRE / TPE (variable) | Per BTU load | CR / Cast iron acceptable in closed loop |
| Cooling tower makeup | CR 10, 15, 20, 32 | 60–190 GPM | CR (oxygenated but clean) |
| Irrigation — large turf / golf | CR 32, 45, 64, 95 | 190–570 GPM | CR + CUE drive |
| Machine-tool coolant supply | MTR 1–64 | 8–380 GPM, immersible | 304 SS |
| Through-spindle coolant (TSC) | MTRE 5, 10, 15 | 30–90 GPM at high pressure | 304 SS + E-Pump VFD |
| Chip-laden coolant return | MTA 30, 60, 90, 120, 200 | 13–85 GPM single stage | Cast iron / open impeller |
| Light commercial water supply | CM / CME 1, 3, 5, 10 | 12–75 GPM | CM-A / CM-I / CM-G per chloride |
| Container / mobile water plant | CR-H / CRN-H | Same as CR but horizontal | CR-H or CRN-H |
| Light industrial / OEM | CR 1s, 1, 3, 5 | 4–32 GPM | CR / CRI |
| Fire jockey | CR 1, 3, 5 | 8–32 GPM, high head | CR (UL/FM where required) |
Accessory and Control Recommendations
- For any variable-demand application: step up to the matching E-Pump (CRE / CRIE / CRNE / CME / MTRE) or pair the fixed-speed pump with a CUE drive.
- For dry-run protection on any CR: add the LiqTec sensor — fits inside the pump head, no external probes.
- For BMS / BACnet / Modbus integration: add a CIM card or CIU box.
- For pressure-control feedback: use the VFS flow sensor or RPS/RPI pressure transmitters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Specifying cast-iron CR for any chloride-bearing service. If chlorides > 200 ppm or temp > 140 °F, jump to CRN — pitting will appear inside 12 months otherwise.
- Oversizing motor HP because of stage uncertainty. Run a Grundfos Product Center sizing first; the right combination of stages and HP saves 20 % on first cost.
- Using a CR vertical when CR-H horizontal fits the room. Low-headroom installations are a CR-H natural fit — saves rework.
- Skipping the LiqTec on a CR that can dead-head or lose suction. Dry-running a CR will destroy the shaft seal in seconds; the LiqTec is cheap insurance.
- Specifying a generic VFD instead of CUE on a pump retrofit. Generic VFDs lack pump-specific protections and require programming time the CUE eliminates.
Need Application-Specific Sizing?
ForeverPure Place is an authorized Grundfos partner with engineering staff who run the Grundfos Product Center selector across all industrial water applications. Send us your duty conditions and we'll size, quote and ship.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Grundfos pump is best for reverse osmosis?For city-water RO pre-feed and brackish-water RO, use a Grundfos CRN (316L stainless multistage) — sizes CRN 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 32. For seawater RO (SWRO), use a Grundfos BM or BM hp horizontal booster module.
Which Grundfos pump is best for boiler feed?A Grundfos CR or CRN in size 5, 10, 15, 20 or 32 — typically with an HQQV high-temperature seal. Specify CRN if condensate has any chloride contamination, otherwise CR is fine for clean deaerator water.
Which Grundfos pump is best for HVAC?For modulating chilled water or condenser water duty, use a Grundfos CRE or TPE variable-speed E-Pump. For constant-duty HVAC, a fixed-speed CR or TP pump is sufficient.
Which Grundfos pump is best for pressure boosting?A Grundfos CRE in a Hydro MPC or Hydro Multi-E booster set is the standard for commercial pressure boosting. For small commercial/residential, a CME-based Hydro Multi-E set or a single CRE 5 / CRE 10 is typical.
Which Grundfos pump is best for machine-tool coolant?A Grundfos MTR (multistage with separable motor) for general coolant supply, MTC (close-coupled) for small machines, or MTRE for variable-flow high-pressure through-spindle coolant. MTA single-stage for chip-laden return.