Graco QUANTM i230: 3-Inch Electric Diaphragm Pump, 230 GPM Without Compressed Air
The Graco QUANTM i230 is a 3-inch electric diaphragm pump: up to 230 gpm and 100 psi, driven by a FluxCore XT motor with a built-in drive instead of compressed air. It runs on 380–480 V three-phase power, needs no external VFD, stalls under pressure and runs dry without damage, and has an aluminum fluid section for water, wastewater, paints, coatings, ceramics and building materials. Graco states QUANTM pumps cut energy costs by up to 80% versus pneumatic pumps.
QUANTM i230 on a concrete pad at an outdoor process plant, piped in stainless with a 480 V three-phase disconnect. Photos and clips on this page are illustrative renders, not a specific customer site.
Watch: electric diaphragm pump vs air, explained on the i230
Electric Diaphragm Pump vs Air: Graco QUANTM i230 Explained (7:00): how it works without compressed air, the DOE energy math with a worked example, the curve, power and controls, aluminum fit, install, and i230 vs a 3-inch air pump. Narration is an AI voice; scenes are photoreal renders.
Deeper dive: Liberty Specs Podcast Ep. 4, What Compressed Air Really Costs (11 min, full transcript).
QUANTM i230 specifications
| Specification | QUANTM i230 |
|---|---|
| Type | Electric-operated double diaphragm pump (EODD) |
| Maximum free-flow delivery | 230 gpm (870 lpm) |
| Maximum fluid working pressure | 100 psi (6.89 bar) |
| Displacement | 1.25 gal (4.73 L) per cycle |
| Maximum solids | 3/8 in (9.5 mm) |
| Suction lift | 28 ft (8.5 m) wet · 10 ft (3 m) dry |
| Ports | 3 in ANSI flange, end ports (inlet bottom, outlet top) |
| Fluid section | Aluminum (only option); powder-coated aluminum center section |
| Power | 380–480 V, 3-phase, 50/60 Hz · 16 A rated · 20 A max breaker · SCCR 5 kA |
| Motor & drive | FluxCore XT motor with built-in drive — no external VFD |
| Enclosure | IP66 / NEMA Type 4 |
| Ambient | −4 to 104°F (−20 to 40°C), up to 9,842 ft (3,000 m) |
| Sound | 81.5 dBA sound pressure at 1 m (ISO 3744); 103.2 dBA sound power |
| Weight | 388 lb (176 kg) complete; 130 lb (59 kg) fluid section |
| Dimensions | 34 in L × 21 in W × 38.3 in H; mounting pattern 12.5 × 20.2 in |
| Approvals | UL 1004-1, CSA C22.2 No. 100; non-hazardous locations only |
| Warranty | Graco standard warranty, 12 months from date of sale |
| Part numbers | TE230-0000 (Santoprene) · TE230-0005 (Graco Engineered Thermoplastic) |
Sources: Graco sales sheet 3J0984EN-A, instruction manual X063399 Rev. A, repair-parts manual X064570 Rev. A and graco.com product pages (accessed 2026-10-06). Where Graco documents disagree we use the manual: graco.com lists 14 A, the manual 16 A. Graco publishes no motor horsepower or cycle rate for the i230.
QUANTM i230 pressure vs flow
An electric diaphragm pump's curve is set by the motor, not by an air regulator. Graco publishes one maximum-output curve for the i230: about 99 psi at 25 gpm, 76 psi at 100 gpm, 54 psi at 150 gpm and 29 psi at 200 gpm, falling toward the 230 gpm free-flow rating. Turn the speed knob or send a 4–20 mA / 0–10 V signal and the pump runs anywhere under that line.
Redrawn by LibertyCES from Graco manual X063399 Rev. A, p.39 (Fig. 15-1). Graco publishes no table; the plotted line runs slightly past 230 gpm at about 10 psi, so we use the 230 gpm rating. The shaded area is the operating range.
Where the savings come from: no compressor in the loop
An air-operated pump is powered by a compressor, and the U.S. DOE puts the overall efficiency of a typical compressed air system at 10 to 15 percent. DOE also notes it takes about 7 to 8 hp of electricity at the compressor to run a 1 hp air motor at 100 psig. Graco's own ROI calculator prices compressed air at about 20.7 kW of compressor input per 100 SCFM.
The i230 puts the electricity straight into the pump. Graco states QUANTM pumps cut energy costs by up to 80% compared with pneumatic pumps. Graco publishes no power curve for the i230, so we estimate the electric side from your duty and show the assumption.
Run the compressed air cost calculator → Example at Graco's default 2,000 h/yr: a 3-inch AODD at 150 gpm and 35 psi uses about 107 SCFM on the FT30P curve, about 22 kW at the compressor.
FluxCore XT motor, built-in drive, remote I/O
- No external VFD. The drive is integrated; speed is set by the knob on the pump or remotely.
- Remote I/O: analog speed input (4–20 mA or 0–10 V, selectable), run/stop digital input, and digital outputs for run, cycle pulse, fault and leak.
- Stalls under pressure and runs dry without pump damage (Graco sales sheet). A closed discharge valve stops the pump instead of building pressure past its rating.
- Leak protection: an isolated motor design keeps fluid out of the drive after a diaphragm failure, with automatic leak detection, shutdown and a maintenance notification (graco.com).
- ProConnect service design: swap fluid heads without moving or unwiring the motor.
An aluminum pump: what it is for, and what it is not
The i230's fluid section is aluminum, and that is the only option. Graco lists paint and coatings manufacturing, ceramics production, water treatment, building materials production, wastewater and general fluid transfer. Aluminum is not the material for strong acids, caustics or sodium hypochlorite; for those, LibertyCES specifies a polypropylene or PVDF diaphragm pump such as the FTI Air FT30P, matched to the chemical in the AODD chemical compatibility chart.
Seats: Santoprene, 316 stainless, Buna-N, FKM, Graco Engineered Thermoplastic (GE), TPE. Balls: Santoprene, neoprene, weighted neoprene, Buna-N, FKM, GE, acetal, PTFE. Diaphragms: Santoprene, neoprene, Buna-N, FKM, GE, TPE, PTFE/Santoprene two-piece.
| Wetted material | Fluid temperature range |
|---|---|
| Aluminum (fluid section) | −60 to 275°F |
| Santoprene | −40 to 180°F |
| Graco Engineered Thermoplastic (GE) | −40 to 180°F |
| Buna-N | 10 to 180°F |
| Neoprene | 10 to 180°F |
| FKM | −40 to 275°F |
| PTFE | −40 to 220°F |
Graco manual X063399, Table 5-1: limits based on mechanical stress only; chemicals can lower them. Every fluid is confirmed in spec review before we quote.
Suction lift, priming and solids
The manual lists 28 ft of wet suction lift and 10 ft dry, and solids up to 3/8 in (9.5 mm). Graco's product-group page describes self-priming operation, dry-run capability and stall-under-pressure behavior "within the approved operating limits." Keep the inlet fluid pressure at or below 25% of the outlet working pressure, per the manual.
Receiving and installing a 388 lb electric diaphragm pump
- Receiving: inspect the crate and strapping on the truck before signing; photograph any damage. The complete pump weighs 388 lb (176 kg).
- Rigging: lift with a crane or forklift rated for the load; keep people clear of the suspended pump.
- Mounting: bolt to a level pad or skid on the 12.5 × 20.2 in hole pattern. Overall footprint is about 34 × 21 in, 38.3 in tall to the top of the outlet flange.
- Piping: 3 in ANSI flanges, inlet at the bottom and outlet at the top. Support the piping so its weight doesn't load the pump; keep inlet pressure at or below 25% of the outlet working pressure.
- Power: 380–480 V three-phase, 20 A max inverse-time breaker, local disconnect, IP66 / NEMA 4 enclosure. Non-hazardous locations only.
- Controls: wire the run/stop and speed signals and the fault and leak outputs back to your PLC or SCADA.
Service: swap the fluid head, not the motor
Graco's ProConnect design lets you swap fluid heads without moving or unwiring the motor. Complete fluid modules, check-valve kits and diaphragm kits are sold by part number (for example motor drive assembly 2017615, Santoprene fluid module 2017618), so a spare head can keep a line running while the worn one is rebuilt.
Warranty: Graco standard, 12 months from date of sale, excluding normal wear, abrasion and corrosion.
QUANTM i230 vs FTI Air FT30P: two 3-inch diaphragm pumps, two different jobs
| Graco QUANTM i230 (electric) | FTI Air FT30P (air) | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 380–480 V 3-phase electric | Compressed air, up to 120 psi |
| Maximum flow | 230 gpm | 300 gpm at 120 psi air (~280 at 100 psi) |
| Maximum pressure | 100 psi | 120 psi |
| Fluid section | Aluminum | Glass-filled polypropylene |
| Best fit | Water, wastewater, paints & coatings, ceramics, building materials | Acids, caustics and corrosive chemicals the housing is rated for |
| Solids | 3/8 in | 1/2 in |
| Dry suction lift | 10 ft | 20.1 ft (rubber diaphragms) |
| Weight | 388 lb | ~140 lb |
| Hazardous locations | Not approved | No hazardous rating published; never flammables in PP |
| Running cost driver | Electricity at the pump | Compressed air (compressor kW) |
Pick by fluid first: corrosive chemistry points to the polypropylene FT30P; water, slurries, paints and coatings in a non-hazardous area with three-phase power point to the i230, where the energy savings pay. FT30P specs & curve →
QUANTM i230 installed, on a skid and in the studio
Illustrative renders. The Graco nameplate shown is the product's own marking.
QUANTM i230 frequently asked questions
What is the Graco QUANTM i230?
The QUANTM i230 is Graco's 3-inch electric-operated double diaphragm pump, introduced in 2026. It delivers up to 230 gpm free flow and 100 psi, uses a FluxCore XT motor with a built-in drive (no external VFD), runs on 380–480 V three-phase power and has an aluminum fluid section. Graco calls it the industry's highest-capacity electric diaphragm pump.
How much energy does the QUANTM i230 save compared with an air-operated pump?
Graco states QUANTM pumps cut energy costs by up to 80% compared with traditional pneumatic pumps. Graco publishes no power curve for the i230 itself, so savings depend on your duty, run hours and compressed-air cost. The LibertyCES compressed air cost calculator estimates both sides for your duty.
Can the QUANTM i230 run dry or stall against a closed valve?
Yes. Graco's sales sheet says it "stalls under pressure and runs dry without pump damage." Graco's product-group page also lists self-priming operation and dry-run capability "within the approved operating limits"; the manual gives 10 ft of dry suction lift and 28 ft wet.
What fluids is the QUANTM i230 suited to?
Graco lists paint and coatings manufacturing, ceramics production, water treatment, building materials production, wastewater and general fluid transfer. The fluid section is aluminum only, so it is not the pump for strong acids, caustics or sodium hypochlorite; for those LibertyCES specifies a polypropylene or PVDF diaphragm pump instead.
Can the QUANTM i230 be used in hazardous locations?
No. Graco's manuals state the i230 is not approved for use in explosive atmospheres or hazardous (classified) locations. It is UL 1004-1 and CSA C22.2 No. 100 listed for non-hazardous locations.
What power does the QUANTM i230 need?
380–480 V three-phase, 50/60 Hz. The manual lists 16 A rated current, a 20 A maximum inverse-time breaker and a 5 kA short-circuit current rating. The enclosure is IP66 / NEMA Type 4.
How is the QUANTM i230 controlled?
A speed knob on the pump, plus remote I/O: an analog speed input selectable for 4–20 mA or 0–10 V, a run/stop digital input, and digital outputs for run, cycle pulse, fault and leak. No external VFD or separate controller is required.
How heavy is the QUANTM i230?
The complete pump weighs 388 lb (176 kg); the aluminum fluid section alone is 130 lb (59 kg). Overall it is about 34 in long, 21 in wide and 38.3 in tall, with a 12.5 × 20.2 in mounting-hole pattern. Plan crane or forklift rigging for receiving and installation.
What is compressed air costing you right now?
Enter your flow, discharge pressure, run hours and power rate. See the yearly cost of the air behind your diaphragm pump, the i230 estimate, and get the Air vs Electric Diaphragm Pump Energy Worksheet (PDF) by email.
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Reviewed by James Riggins, 30+ years specifying water and chemical process equipment · Updated