Hydronic heating comprises warming water as a medium, moving and expending its energy to warm an environment. Thus we have boilers as heat generators and radiation to convert heated water into warmth. Between these we must distribute our medium via pipes, pumps, valves and controls to meet heating demands.
Basic hydronic system design rules of course must apply, but by and large the final product interpretation has been left to the tradesman/installer. This individualization provides a very attractive latitude of self-expression. Like an artist painting on a new canvas, individual skills, styling and practice all comprise the final “picture”, with the author’s “signature” applied. Based upon our field observations we have come to refer to hydronic distribution in particular as “The Plumber’s Playground”, and with no apologies offered.
Unfortunately the Laws of Physics apply equally to hydronic system installations as to any other enterprise. Therefore that maze of pipes, valves, circulators, controls and wiring evidenced in a “plumbers playground”, no matter how pretty, daunting or impressive is unnecessarily complex, costly and under-performs. In fact any system installed within the past three years or more not employing Delta-T ECM Hydronic Distribution Technology specifically is woefully under-performing!
The Heating Game has changed, led by the Taco VT2218 Delta-T ECM Circulator and its supporting Zone Sentry Valves. We refer to it as “The Hydronic Revolution”, as it truly is! These two (2) devices, properly applied, can and do dramatically simplify the complexity and content of a conventional hydronic heating system. Again, properly applied and supported by an “Intelligent System Aquastat” with idealized piping (plumbing) can further enhance performance, as our work has evidenced. Our development efforts and observations are reflected within the remainder of this presentation.
The Delta-T ECM Variable Speed, Intelligent, Multi-Temperature-Sensing Circulator is a marvel of applied technology. Its ability to sense, measure and maintain a preset temperature differential in a hydronic circuit virtually optimizes heat transfer efficiency in a single, automatic step. Further being able to accommodate varying demands from multiple zones (circuits) virtually seamlessly as we have evidenced places it as the heart of any hydronic system. Using an automotive analogy we slogan this as putting an “Automatic Transmission” on a Boiler, but doing it hydronically.
Now pair this Taco® Delta-T ECM Circulator with a compliment of their Zone Sentry® Zone Valves and you dramatically reduce energy consumption while gaining some further fuel efficiency. As Taco® promotes we are seeing distribution power consumption drops to 11-13 watts and in another instance to 8 watts during normal operation! Compare these with 80 watts for a single Taco® 007 and 21 watts each for a Heat Motor Zone Valve. (The Zone Sentry® uses 11 watts, and then only during a brief actuator “charging cycle”. Hydronic distribution power consumption is seldom considered in contemporary system design, but should and must be!
Piping is the pride of any plumber (ourselves included) yet in so being can become a detriment to system performance. To this point we offer that hydronic convection (the natural attribute of heated water to rise, and cooler fall) is not considered as a positive contribution to system performance, but an attribute to be controlled. As we have witnessed in our design effort however, natural convection is a measurable asset, particularly when configuring piping and placement to maximize its effect. Near-boiler piping, to employ the trade term, is crucial to maximizing hydronic performance. Compacted packaging of correct pipe sizing and layout close to the boiler displays great natural (non-powered) circulation that may not only supplement but also heat at reduced levels. We had an early Delta-T Circulator failure on one of our “beta” installations that was not discovered for an estimated 2-3 days! How’s that for convection — like “paddling your canoe with the current”, as we say.
When you fully integrate the “intelligent” Delta-T ECM Circulator, Zone Valves and Aquastat with idealized convection you come to the conclusion that hydronic system installation is no longer a process, but functionally defines an Appliance. Our resultant “package” is contained within its boiler footprint plus minimal rear piping space. A designer need only define system capacity, number of zones, fuel type and exhausting to define the “appliance”. Further, the application lends itself to modularization, and thus to versatility by default. Not only do we significantly reduce the material content of a system, but its labor content and installation time as well.
Now there is both a trade and consumer option, a virtual Hydronic Heating Appliance with a fixed cost and defined, superlative performance. Our work to date has been developing a “Packaged” Delta-T Heating Appliance that achieves its higher performance by incorporating Delta-T ECM Hydronic Distribution Technology with a high-mass, lower operating temperature boiler for optimized performance. But also recognize that Delta-T ECM Hydronic Distribution will putt an “automatic transmission” on ANY boiler. This obviously reduces the size, content and complexity of the “Plumber’s Playground”, and to a net performance advantage in doing so.
To summarize, A Hydronic Heating Appliance is in our near future, defined by technology and necessitated by the market, like it or not. Its Performance Specification will virtually predefine system performance, unlike the potpourri of present practice. Our publicized contributions are documented on our website www.BoilersOnDemand.com. Please note that our current and following product offerings are under Intelligent Property Protection (Patent Pending). We look forward to “Boilers On Demand” in the new “Plumber’s Playground”.
