TOTAL SOLUTION

One of the best ways to improve energy efficiency in an existing commercial boiler system is to replace the existing boiler plant with new, highly efficient, modulating, condensing gas boilers coupled with electronically commutated motor (ECM), variable, primary boiler pumps, said John M. Packer, president and chief operating officer, FIA Inc., a manufacturer’s representative for Bell & Gossett. That’s because modulating condensing gas boilers are capable of supply water temperature reset to match the building load and deep part-load operation (turndown) and can include variable-speed primary boiler pumps.

“Smart ECM pumps like Bell & Gossett’s Ecocirc XL leverage intelligent controls and communication capabilities like proactive self-monitoring, reducing system downtime for maximum efficiency and lower operational costs,” said Packer. “This is a new twist on traditional primary/secondary applications. Variable-speed boiler pumps match production with load, keeping boiler return temperatures low and boiler efficiency high, while the condensing operation is maximized. ROI [return on investment] can be realized quickly when utility rebates and improved plant operations are considered. In fact, FIA had one property management customer that experienced ROI less than one year after making improvements to the building’s boiler system.”

Nate Warren, business development manager of specialty products, Bradford White Corp., agreed there is a strong case to be made for replacing older, less efficient boilers with modulating condensing boilers.

“Modulating the boiler output to match the heating needs can improve the comfort and efficiency of the heating system,” he said. “In most cases, these condensing boilers can be equipped with onboard variable-speed pump controls that make it easier for contractors to integrate variable-speed boiler pumps and provide additional boiler and electrical efficiencies.”

Some building owners may be reluctant to replace an aging boiler system before it fails, added Warren. However, the combined energy efficiencies of condensing boilers with integrated variable-speed pump controls can greatly reduce utility and operating costs, which helps justify the investment well before the existing system fails.

For buildings that already have condensing boilers installed, often the simplest way to optimize energy efficiency is to lower the return water temperature back to the boilers to the point the system is operating in condensing mode (return water temperatures below 130°F), said Catie VanWormer, product sales manager of ClearFire® boilers, Cleaver-Brooks Inc.

“This often means lowering the supply temperature year-round or implementing supply temperature reset, which can help improve boiler operating efficiency in the shoulder seasons when higher temperatures are not necessary to heat the space,” she said.

Indeed, where condensing boilers are concerned, return water temperature is one of the most important parameters for efficiency and energy savings, said Kyle Bottorff, product manager, Fulton Heating Solutions.

“Installing a VFD [variable frequency drive] pump to open up the delta-T across the boiler will help lower return water temperatures, thereby increasing thermal efficiency and condensing potential,” he said. “Additionally, better control systems designed specifically for condensing boilers can stage boilers more effectively for additional utility savings and less wasted energy by reducing the number of purge cycles.”

COST-EFFECTIVE UPGRADES

If total replacement is not an option and a building’s mid-efficiency boilers are still in good shape, then adding even one modulating condensing boiler can help reduce operating expenses over time, said Chuck O’Donnell, director of marketing, Laars Heating Systems.

“These hybrid systems operate the modulating condensing boiler first when there’s a call for heat, which allows for the majority of the heating load to be satisfied by the most efficient boiler,” he said. “The mid-efficiency boilers come online only during the coldest days of the year. By installing a hybrid system, building owners can save money on upfront installation costs and still enjoy much of the savings of a complete modulating condensing boiler system.”

Other ways to improve the efficiency of an existing boiler can include burner retrofits or controls upgrades as well as changing lead/lag staging parameters to help minimize excessive cycling, noted VanWormer.

“Implementing variable-speed pumping, either by adding variable-speed drives to existing pumps or replacing pumps, can also reduce pumping energy consumption as well as help to maintain the design delta-T,” she said.

The power consumed by pumps can be substantial, which is why variable-speed pumping is becoming so popular, according to O’Donnell.

“Variable-speed drives, such as Laars Heating Systems’ Vari-Prime, which can be used with MagnaTherm and NeoTherm condensing boilers, match a variable-speed pump’s flow rate with that of the boiler’s modulation rate,” he said. “When the boiler modulates down, so will the variable-speed pump. Over time, this can significantly reduce a building owner’s electrical bills.”

Variable-speed pumps with integrated controls, such as Grundfos’s Magna3 unit, which uses an ECM motor and has built-in control functions designed specifically for variable load heating loop applications, can significantly reduce energy consumption, said Michael Madsen, district sales manager, Grundfos Pumps Corp.

“An ECM motor is more efficient than a conventional motor, and typical energy savings of 25-35 percent can be obtained with this improvement alone,” he added.

The Magna3 has several built-in control modes that will adjust the pump’s performance based on the load in the system, explained Madsen.

“For example, as more radiators are calling for heating water, the pump will automatically pump more, and when fewer are calling for heating water it will pump less,” he said. “The unit’s control mode, Auto Adapt, allows it to automatically adjust to actual system conditions and optimize performance and energy savings.”

Self-sensing pumps are another option that building owners and managers should consider when looking to improve efficiency, said Richard Medairos, senior systems engineer and trainer, Taco Comfort Solutions.

“Self-sensing pumps respond to the demands of the system and can be configured to deliver a constant temperature differential across the boiler(s) at variable flows,” he said. “This is an advantage, because it ensures that the boiler operates at its highest efficiency.”

Self-sensing pumps can be used in both constant and variable-flow systems, explained Medairos. In a constant-flow configuration, these pumps can accurately deliver precise flow to each boiler in the system, while in variable-flow configurations, they provide consistent variable flow, or variable primary flow, ensuring a match between boiler capacity and system load. In an existing constant flow configuration, the ROI of a self-sensing pump can be realized within one or two years.

Several major pump manufacturers offer self-sensing pumps with integrated VFDs, said Medairos. These pumps do not require sensors to be installed in the pipes and come with the VFD factory tuned to that specific pump and preprogrammed for sensorless variable flow pumping.

“Quite literally, these pumps need only be installed and activated,” he said. “They’re programmed to sense what flow is needed, and they provide it immediately.”

KEEP IT CLEAN

Of course, peak performance starts with a clean boiler, and regular planned maintenance as outlined by the manufacturer will help ensure boiler systems remain clean and operating as designed, said Packer.

“Boiler systems should be kept free of oil and other impurities, which can cause short cycling and wet steam and waste energy,” he said. “Basic recordkeeping is also essential, and contractors should keep a preventive maintenance log to evaluate system performance and spot trends that may be affecting boiler operation. This sets a baseline for later maintenance and service calls.”

Keeping the boiler free from impurities involves proper water treatment, which usually consists of chemical inhibitors combined with some kind of mechanical filtration. Taco air separators, for example, remove air and dirt from the system to prevent problems, such as reduced heat transfer, loss of efficiency, pipe corrosion, pump damage, noise, and increased energy consumption. “Within the air separator enclosure, water moves through pall rings to cleanse the fluid of microbubbles, sand, dirt, and rust,” said Medairos.

Where hydronic heating systems utilize iron pipe, scale and iron oxide sludge (magnetite) make up most of the system debris. Because of its small particle size, magnetite can be very damaging to system components, such as ECM pumps and heat exchangers. Magnetite can accumulate in low-flow areas, forming a sludge and combining with scale to create a hard enamel-like coating on the inside of pipework and the heat exchangers.

“This can lead to expensive failures due to overheating and blocked water ways as well as causing a significant reduction in boiler efficiency,” said Tom Tonkins, director of US business development, ADEY Professional Heating Solutions.

ADEY’s range of MagnaClean Commercial dirt filters utilize strong rare earth magnets to collect and retain damaging sludge consisting of magnetite and scale, regardless of particle size. “MagnaClean can boost system efficiency by up to 30 percent, greatly improving performance and restoring equipment back to its original ratings.” said Tonkins. “And while ROI will depend on the condition of each system, in general, payback — including the cost of installation — should be achievable within six to eight months.”

As can be seen, there are numerous ways in which boilers can be optimized to increase efficiency and comfort. Many of these upgrades are relatively easy to implement, and they are not costly, which should make them attractive to commercial building owners and managers who are looking for ways to reduce operating costs.

Publication date: 2/19/2018

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!