Video: Case Studies in Improved Hydronic System Performance Via Effective Air & Dirt Elimination

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the impact air and dirt in a hydronic system fluid have on the performance, energy efficiency, and TCO of any hydronic cooling or heating system and on the equipment the system serves.
• Recognize what “normal” hydronic system issues may be due to entrained air in the hydronic fluid.
• Identify tangible system improvements that may be achieved using coalescing air and dirt elimination technology.
• Understand the utility cost, non-utility cost, and non-financial benefits associated with air- and dirt-free hydronic systems.

Video courtesy: CxEnergy

Presenters:

• Stephen Clinton, PE, LEED AP, Spirotherm

This presentation will address how air entrained in a hydronic system fluid negatively affects the start-up, testing and balancing (TAB), commissioning (Cx), first-year warranty period, and ongoing operation and maintenance of typical hydronic cooling and heating systems that contain a fluid-air mixture.

This session will focus on numerous case studies that identify and quantify improvements in the performance of chilled water (CHW), heating hot water (HW), and glycol systems after the entrained air, entrapped air pockets, and dirt (i.e., particulates) were removed from these systems using coalescing air and dirt elimination technology. The case studies address a wide variety of system types, sizes, configurations, and conditions, with the common result of hydronic systems operating with “a new normal” level of performance and with a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO) after effective air and dirt elimination.

The presentation will share the summary of an extensive energy and financial analysis evaluating the increased energy usage and associated costs due to air in chilled water and heating hot water systems. This exercise utilized the multi-iteration modeling of a prototypical hospital, with the building modeled in five different U.S. cities. Each model was adapted to address site-specific weather data and energy rates and the building/system modifications required for ASHRAE 90.1 compliance for each location.

CxEnergy is the premier conference & expo in commissioning, building technology, and energy management. CSE subscribers receive a 10% discount to the CxEnergy 2023 with promo code CSE10 (May 2-5, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX). Learn more and register.

CxEnergy is presented by the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG), the Energy Management Association (EMA), and the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC). Together, these Authorities in Building Performance represent over 600 member companies and 2,500 certified professionals in the testing, adjusting, and balancing, commissioning, and energy management industries.

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