Maintenance and design managers looking to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of their institutions and commercial facilities understand that boilers and water heaters play a key role in achieving this goal.
Informed designers can take advantage of the flexibility of modern cycle technology to design systems that allow heat pumps to operate at optimum performance. The convergence of trends such as electrification, building heating and cooling load reduction and heat pump technology “opens up unprecedented opportunities to leverage modern cycle technologies that can significantly increase market share and better meet consumer expectations,” said director Kevin Freudt. provide product management and technical services to Caleffi in North America.
The growing availability and efficiency of air-to-water heat pumps will have a significant impact on the circulation system market, Freudt said. Most heat pumps can provide chilled water for cooling. This feature alone opens up many possibilities that were previously impractical.
High efficiency condensing water heaters adapted to existing loads can reduce BTU consumption by 10% compared to medium efficiency models.
“Assessing storage load when replacement is needed usually indicates that the performance of the unit can be reduced, which reduces carbon footprint,” said Mark Croce, Senior Product Manager, PVI.
Because a high-efficiency boiler is a costly long-term investment, upfront costs should not be the primary determinant of managers in the specification process.
Managers can pay extra for condensing boiler systems that offer industry-leading warranties, smart and connected controls that help achieve the highest possible efficiency or provide guidance when problems arise and ensure the right condensing conditions.
Neri Hernandez, Senior Product Manager at AERCO International Inc., said: “Investing in this type of solution with the capabilities described above can accelerate return on investment and deliver higher savings and dividends for many years to come.”
The key to a successful boiler or water heater replacement project is to have a clear understanding of the goals before work begins.
“Whether the facility manager is for pre-heating the entire building, ice melting, hydronic heating, domestic water heating, or any other purpose, the end goal can have a huge impact on product selection,” said Mike Juncke, product manager application in Lochinvar.
Part of the specification process is to ensure that the equipment is properly sized. While being too large can result in a higher initial capital investment and long-term operating costs, smaller domestic water heaters can have a negative impact on business operations, “especially during peak periods,” says Dan Josiah, assistant product manager for Bradford White. featured products. “We always recommend that facility managers seek the assistance of water heater and boiler specialists to ensure that their system is suitable for their particular application.”
Managers need to focus on a few key aspects in order to align boiler and water heater options with their plant’s needs.
For water heaters, the building load must be assessed and the system sized to match the original equipment to ensure load requirements are met. The systems use different paradigms for sizing and often have more storage space than the water heater they replace. It is also worth measuring your hot water consumption to make sure the replacement system is the correct size.
“A lot of the time, older systems are too big,” says Brian Cummings, product manager for Lync system solutions at Watts, “because adding extra power to a fossil fuel system is cheaper than heat pump technology.”
When it comes to boilers, management’s biggest concern is that the water temperature in the new unit may not match the water temperature in the unit being replaced. Managers must test the entire heating system, not just the heat source, to ensure that the building’s heating needs are met.
“These installations have some key differences from legacy equipment and it is highly recommended that facilities work with a manufacturer that has experience from the start and studies the needs of the facility to ensure success,” said Andrew Macaluso, product manager at Lync.
Before embarking on a new generation boiler and water heater replacement project, managers need to understand the facility’s daily hot water needs, as well as the frequency and timing of peak water usage.
“Managers also need to be aware of available installation space and installation locations, as well as available utilities and air exchange, and possible duct locations,” said Paul Pohl, manager of commercial new product development at AO Smith.
Understanding the specific needs of the application and the type of application is critical for managers as they determine which new technology is best for their building.
“The type of product they need can depend on a variety of factors, such as knowing if they need a water storage tank or how much water their application will consume daily,” says Charles Phillips, technical training manager. Loshinva.
It is also important for managers to understand the difference between new technology and existing technology. New equipment may require additional training for internal staff, but the overall equipment maintenance load does not increase significantly.
“Aspects such as equipment layout and footprint can vary, so you need to carefully consider how best to apply this technology,” Macaluso said. “Most of the high-performance equipment will cost more initially, but will pay for itself over time for its efficiency. It’s very important for facility managers to evaluate this as the cost of the entire system and present the full picture to their managers. It’s important.”
Managers should also be familiar with other device enhancements such as building management integration, powered anodes, and advanced diagnostics.
“Building control integration links the functions of individual building devices so that they can be controlled as an integrated system,” said Josiah.
Performance monitoring and remote control ensure proper energy consumption and save money. An anode system powered by tank water heaters is designed to extend the life of the tank.
“They provide corrosion protection for water heater tanks under high loads and adverse water quality conditions,” Josiah said.
Facility managers can be confident that water heaters are more resilient to typical and atypical water conditions and usage patterns. In addition, advanced boiler and water heater diagnostics “can significantly reduce downtime,” Josiah said. “Prompt troubleshooting and maintenance allows you to get back up and running faster, and everyone loves it.”
When selecting boiler and water heater options for the needs of their business, managers must weigh several important considerations.
Depending on the equipment at the site, the focus is on providing hot water in case of peak demand, which can be an instantaneous flow for tankless or hourly use for storage type systems. This will ensure that there is enough hot water in the system.
“Right now we are seeing more and more properties trying to downsize,” said Dale Schmitz of Rinnai America Corp. “They may also want to keep an eye on future maintenance or replacement costs. A tankless engine is easy to repair and any part can be replaced with a Phillips screwdriver.”
Managers may consider using electric boilers as supplemental system boilers to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates and overall carbon savings.
“Also, if the heating system is larger than needed, using heat exchanger packs to produce domestic hot water can be a cost-effective solution that eliminates the need for additional fuel or electrical equipment,” says Sean Lobdell. Cleaver-Brooks Inc.
Forgetting false information about new generation boilers and water heaters is just as important as knowing the correct information.
“There is a persistent myth that high condensing boilers are unreliable and require more maintenance than traditional boilers,” says Hernandez. “It’s not like that at all. In fact, the warranty for new generation boilers can be twice as long or better than previous boilers.”
This has been made possible by advances in heat exchanger materials. For example, 439 stainless steel and smart control can ease cycling and protect the boiler from high pressure conditions.
“New controls and cloud analytics tools provide guidance on when maintenance is required and whether any preventive action should be taken to avoid downtime,” Hernandez said.
“But they are still some of the most efficient products on the market, and they have a very low environmental impact,” said Isaac Wilson, product support manager at AO Smith. “They are also capable of producing large amounts of hot water in a short amount of time, which often makes them the best choice for applications with constant hot water demand.”
In conclusion, understanding the issues involved, understanding the needs of the site, and being familiar with equipment options can often lead to a successful outcome.
Post time: Jan-14-2023