2016 ASHRAE Winter Conference

ECM motor technologies have been used in wet running heating circulator pumps for years with substantial energy savings. These technologies are now being used on pumps for general HVAC applications. These new pumps with ECM motor technologies also include many new control options which reduce the energy usage of the pump and can contribute to the energy optimization of the overall HVAC system. This presentation gives an overview of these new technologies and the energy saving potentials.

Hydronic single-pipe heating systems have been used for decades and are renowned for their economic design and simple installation.  However, when a high delta T or a particularly low return water temperature is required, single pipe systems often fall short of achieving a high system efficiency. The use of traditional differential pressure controlled pumps is ineffective, as the single pipe systems are designed for constant flow. Therefore, a new approach is needed. This presentation provides a case study from an installation in Denmark where a temperature controlled pump has been used as the tool for obtaining higher system efficiency.

Advances in integrated variable speed drives and controls in ECM driven large wet rotor circulators make them an ideal fit for large residential and small commercial two pipe cooling applications.  This presentation will look at various ways to employ these pumps in primary-secondary and primary-secondary-tertiary pumping systems utilizing combinations of the T, DT, and DP functions of the circulator to effectively and efficiently cool and dehumidify the building.