Pumps & HVAC

‫عمر نمر‬.‫م‬
Pumps in HVAC Systems
Issues During Design Stage
Hydraulic Calculations
• Wrong estimation of Friction
loss inside coils, Chillers,
Reducers, Collectors & Air
separators.
• Using fake rule of thumbs; 1m
friction for each 10 m pipe
length!
• Static head shall be ignored
while calculating the total head
Specifications
• Splitting the duty point by # of
pumps (Ex 3)
• 50 Hz , 3500 rpm
• With VFD “as general sentence”
• Motor voltage with SD ! (ex1)
• Bearing life exceeding 100K
hours
Advises during Design stage
• It is preferred to use low speed pumps (1450 rpm) when the pumps
will work for long hours daily.
• Variable speed pumps are preferable mainly for the secondary loop.
• When using VFD in a pumps set, it is better to use VFD for each pump
not a single one.
• Redesign the system when the duty point is odd! (Very low flow at
very high head). (Ex 2)
• If the anti freeze is used, then the mechanical seals shall be selected
to be capable to handle the precipitations at higher temp. Tungsten
carbide faces shall be used.
Advises during Design stage
• Bronze or Stainless Steel impellers shall be used for Hot water
transfer.
• Cast Iron Impellers can be used for HVAC closed systems (Heating)
• Ductile iron is used instead of cast iron at higher pressure levels.
Advises related to Pump selection
• Not to Depend on one single scenario to draw System curve (worst
one for secondary loop)
• Flat performance curves are preferable for HVAC closed circuit loop
• In Primary loop, the system curve shall cross the single and multiple
pumps QH curve (Ex 3)
• Not to select the pump where the duty point falls on the unstable
region of QH curve (Ex4 )
• The inlet static pressure shall not exceed the allowable level for the
pump even in the closed circuits.
Pump operation: Problems and challenges
• Using the pumps to flush the piping in away that damages the sealing
• Absence the devices that suppose to evacuate the air from the system
• Operating the pumps without balancing the system as per System
design
• Direct connection between independent loops.
• Dirty Strainers!
• Wrong wiring
• Misalignment !
• System’s significant Extensions that can affect pumps performance!
Ex 1
• Motors could work with one specific voltage : 220, or 380 . . Etc. Also
they could be manufactured to work with many levels of Voltage :
220/380, or 220/380/460, or 380/660.
• The smaller value of motor voltage represents the Delta voltage or
Phase to Phase Volt.
Ex 2
Ex 3
Ex 4