This kind of solutions present novelties and developments that make its operation much more efficient.
by Alfredo Sotolongo*
The most economical energy to produce is the one that is saved!
In conversations with many of our colleagues I have noticed that for them water pumps or pumping systems have not changed much in recent years. Therefore, they think that there is not much to write about the subject. However, there are other factors related to optimal operation that represent the highest possible efficiency and the best performance.
We are always looking for ways to operate air conditioning systems as efficiently as possible and to share with our colleagues what has been developed to achieve this. Today, technology allows us to communicate over the Internet using remote systems known as the Clouds. This type of communication allows the frequency inverter that is installed as an integral part of the pump, to send values of the different parameters that it detects during the operation of the system to the Cloud.
Once the information reaches the Cloud, the program interprets it and compares it with the original design values. It automatically adjusts these values and returns them to the variable frequency drive so that it achieves the most efficient operation possible. The fact that certain parameters can be measured, compared to the values considered in the design and can be automatically adjusted can represent savings of more than 40% in the operation of the central plant.
After several years of research using considerable economic and human resources, the company Armstrong Fluid Technology has developed several processes that are applied to pumping systems in air conditioning designs, relying on the "Cloud" for their operation:
• Active Performance Management – Intended for system management and optimizes the operation of air conditioning at any stage of a building's lifecycle, by continuously learning the behavior of thermal loads and responding to changing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning requirements.
• ECO*Pulse - is another process that will help you optimize the performance of cold water plants.
• Pump Manager – It is a cloud-based subscription process that tracks pump performance and provides early diagnostic warnings, trends, analysis and automated reporting. With this process, customers can make informed decisions based on real-time data and take action as needed.
These processes offer the following benefits:
- Real-Time Information and Alerts - Excessive vibration, broken coupling, manual pumping, zero flow work and cavitation.
- Performance Reports – Current relative status in relation to design, ratio between flow and pressure, 3D pump vibration, flow profile, energy consumption profile and carbon footprint.
Proposal for the planet: Armstrong Fluid Technology is committed to minimizing the impact on the environment. Teams to establish the program around the world have undertaken projects that help them meet the goal.
Two examples of ongoing projects are:
- 2 by 22: Commit to helping existing customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions from installed equipment by two million tonnes by 2022.
Under this initiative, they work with customers to upgrade existing facilities and continue to develop new energy-saving solutions.
- Net Zero: This commitment positions energy efficiency as a central component to achieving decarbonization globally. By signing the net zero carbon commitment for buildings it commits to ensuring that its entire range of buildings operates at zero carbon by 2030.
Companies like Armstrong Fluid Technology have my full respect because they practice what they preach. They are committed to helping users of their pumping systems achieve energy saving and decarbonization goals in such a short period of time.
If you need more information on any of the topics covered in this column, please contact me at the mail: asotolongo@protecinc.com
* President of Protec, Inc., is certified as a professional engineer in Puerto Rico and the state of Florida; has more than 40 years of experience in the application and sale of systems and equipment for energy conservation. He is a member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), AEE (Association of Energy Engineers), ASHRAE and was president of the Miami chapter of that association.
