Over the last decade, those who chose integrated design strategies reaped important benefits from the significant advantages of this approach.
The “Pump Optimiser”
A new regulation technique has emerged for regulating the revolution speed of a circulation pump. Called the Pump Optimiser algorithm, it was originally developed by Pedranzini et al. and recently reproposed by Belimo; it consists of gradually reducing the delivery pressure to achieve a gradual opening of the valves, thus controlling each zone to maintain the respective flow rates proportioned to the load control requirements.
For the case in question, the proposed approach, besides using highly efficient components under partial load conditions, is designed to sustain communication over an efficient bus architecture between the valves (equipped with a pressure gauge and an independent pressure mechanism) and the circuit-driving circulation pump, thus achieving optimal efficiency and correct revs reduction according to the previously mentioned Pump Optimiser algorithm.
The “Smart Flow”
Numerical analysis techniques for simulating the behaviour of the various components, as proposed in the Smart Flow approach, have provided the following results:
cases were categorised as follows:
- ‘Old style’ constant RPMs: system loads are calculated in the standard manner and variable-speed pumps are not used
- ‘New style’ constant RPMs: system loads are calculated according to the dynamic method and variable-speed pumps are not used
- ‘New style’ constant DeltaP: system loads are calculated according to the dynamic method and the circulation pump controls the revs by maintaining a constant pressure differential
- ‘New style’ variable DeltaP: system loads are calculated according to the dynamic method and the circulation pump controls the revs by maintaining a constant pressure differential according to the ramp method described above.
- ‘New style’ Pump Optimizer: the system loads are calculated dynamically and the circulation pump controls the revs by opening the valve that happens to be operating under the most unfavourable conditions at a given time.
The results obtained from initial experiences and assessments indicate a 70% reduction in annual pumping costs compared to traditional methods.
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