Energy-Conserving Vacuum Pump vacuum Pumps The installation of a Variable Rate Drive (VSD), sometimes called a adjustable frequency drive, usually saves between 50 and 65% in electricity costs with the same or better regulation of vacuum. The number of energy savings can be from 30 to 80 percent. They can be adapted to blower or in some cases rotary vane type vacuum pumps. They work by changing the acceleration of the vacuum pump based on the reading from a pressure sensor that’s mounted on the vacuum range near the receiver jar. The VSD is basically a dedicated pc with many adjustments therefore it could be possible to improve vacuum regulation over the typical pneumatic vacuum regulator that only has a vacuum level adjustment. A VSD for a vacuum pump is usually cost-effective for a dairy that milks a complete of 8 hours or even more each day. Typically a VSD will not be a cost-effective option for small dairies due to less milking time and thus shorter vacuum pump operate times but there are some other choices to save energy costs.