Canada's Biggest Solar Installation

It's on a new call center operated by LoyaltyOne, operators of the Air Miles  Reward Program, at 6696 Financial Drive in the heart of the Mississauga financial district. The hallmark of the facility is an extensive solar array on the rooftop and adjacent carport. Some 800 photovoltaic solar panels generate 165 kw of power - enough electrify 16 average-sized Ontario homes - making it the largest rooftop solar array in Canada . These panels will allow LoyaltyOne to generate enough electricity to cover their own usage for the building through the amount of power the facility will put back to the grid.

I'm aware solar-generated electricity has nothing to do with radiant and hydronics, except I also know our subscribers are greener than Kermit the Frog. So this ought to tickle your innards. -- Jim Olsztynski

In this issue of The Radiant & Hydronics eNews:

• Employee-Friendly Taco Makes The News 
• Lochinvar Gets BIM Friendly 
• PM Live Sign-Up
• This month's answer to The Glitch & The Fix
  

Taco Makes News For Preserving Jobs
Taco, Inc. was highlighted in a widely reported Associated Press story on the recent White House Jobs Summit. The company's successful attempts to avoid laying off any of its workers during the downturn this year was discussed at some length in the article. Rather than lay off experienced workers during the course of this year, Taco elected to carry out a layoff avoidance strategy called WorkShare, whereby workers worked a day less each week and made up much of the difference in lost salary with unemployment compensation. WorkShare also allowed workers at Taco to keep their benefits intact. Company president and CEO John Hazen White, Jr. (center) is shown on the factory floor with employees.

Slant/Fin Hires Phil La Rosa
Phil La Rosa (right) has joined Slant/Fin Corp. as director of national accounts. He has over 30 years of experience as a sales executive in the hydronic heating industry.

Danfoss Joins DOE Program To Save Energy
Danfoss has become a charter member of the Save Energy Now® LEADER program, a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program providing technical assistance and resources to companies that pledge significant improvements in industrial energy efficiency. Robert Wilkins, president of Danfoss North America, signed a voluntary pledge on Dec. 2, stating that Danfoss will reduce its industrial energy intensity by 25% over the next decade.

Goodman Recalls Heat Pumps Due to Fire Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Goodman Co. announced a voluntary recall of its Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pump (PTACs) Units. The power cords on the PTACs can overheat, posing a burn or fire hazard. About 30,000 units were sold at Goodman and heating and cooling equipment dealers nationwide from Feb. 2007 through June 2008. This product was previously recalled in Aug. 2008.

Lochinvar Makes Drawings BIM Friendly
Lochinvar has developed a library of drawings of its commercial and residential boilers and water heaters that are fully configured for placement in Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 building information models. Architects, contractors and designers using the 2010 edition of Revit software, which allows them to design with parametric modeling and drafting elements, can now download the pre-programmed, 3D Lochinvar equipment models for free at www.Lochinvar.com. For more information about Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 software, visit www.Autodesk.com.

WaterFurnace Picks Up Carolinas Distributor
WaterFurnace Renewable Energy announced its newest GeoStar distributor, Yandle-Witherspoon Supply. Yandle-Witherspoon serves the Carolinas territory and has added the GeoStar line to take advantage of rising consumer interest in geothermal heating and cooling.

Webstone Ready For Lead-Free Laws
Webstone announced it will be offering select EXP Tankless Water Heater Service Valves kits that are compliant with California and Vermont's new ultra-low lead requirements. As of January 1, 2010 the patented EXP E2 will be available in its signature "CleanBrass"™ construction, UPC-certified for compliance with AB 1953 and NSF/ANSI 61-8 Annex G.

2009 Wholesaler of the Year

Robertson Heating Supply, Alliance, Ohio 

This was more a year about survival than super-duper sales, and distributors can learn much from this iconic company in its second go-round as Supply House Times' Wholesaler of the Year -- three, if you count the time its legendary founder was named "Wholesaler of the Quarter-Century."

Read the Complete Article @ SupplyHT.com >>

Certified Geothermal Designers/Installers Are A Click Away

The nonprofit International Ground Source Heat Pump Association lists certified designers and installers on its website.

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©2009, J. Siegenthaler - all rights reserved

Hydraulic Separators Need Help

Click here for a full-size PDF view

The Glitch

Overview: A multiple boiler system is being planned to supply several independently controlled heat zones. The system also includes an indirect water heater operated as a priority load. The load side of the system is piped with 1-inch copper tubing. Reverse return headers are all installed.

During domestic water heating mode, all space heating zone circulators are turned off to allow full boiler output to the indirect tank. During this time, both boiler circulators and the indirect tank circulator are turned on. 

Exercise: Can you spot several incorrect or missing details in the schematic shown at right?

The Fix

In order for a hydraulic separator to achieve its goal, headers leading to the individually pumped load circuits must be generously sized (design flow velocity of 2 ft. /sec or less). If not, a significant pressure drop can develop along the length of both the supply and return headers. This pressure drop will cause some interference among the zone circulators. It's not the fault of the hydraulic separator, but rather the headers connected too it. This is also true on the boiler side of the separator.

When the header is generously sized there is no need for reverse return piping. The latter is appropriate when the same circulator supplies flow through several parallel piping circuits having similar flow requirements. This is not the way this system is configured. Why waste piping when it's unnecessary? 

Another problem involves the indirect tank connected on the boiler side of the hydraulic separator. In this arrangement, the sensor for the multiple-boiler controller is not getting a good indication of the water temperature going to the load during the prioritized domestic water heating mode, and thus cannot control it properly. This has been corrected by moving the connections for the indirect tank downstream of the supply temperature sensor.

The coil heat exchanger inside the indirect water heater is also piped backwards. Hot water from the boilers should always enter the top of the coil to create counterflow heat exchange within the tank.

Other errors / omissions include:

1. Lack of purging valves on the zone circuits and indirect circuit.

2. Circulators piped too close to the header (and thus receiving turbulent flow into the impeller). There should be at least 12 times the pipe diameter of straight piping leading into circulators.

Visit www.HydronicPros.com

Radiant Floor Heating Thermostat: Azel Technologies' D-508F digital non-programmable heat-only thermostat is designed to control either ambient or floor temperature, or a combination of both. An auxiliary remote sensor is provided to measure slab temperature in order to control the floor temperature (within maximum and minimum limits). It can also be used for sensing the outdoor temperature. www.azeltec.com

Taco Support Stands:  Taco announces the availability of new support stands for its vertical in-line pump offerings for use in HVAC and industrial applications as well as domestic water service. Made of rugged ductile iron, the stands can be added to all Taco KV Vertical In-Line Pumps and KS Vertical Split-Coupled Pump models. www.taco-hvac.com

Bryan Steam's New Condensing Boilers: Bryan Steam announced that it will be introducing its Triple-Flex (patent pending) ultra-high efficiency condensing boiler series at the AHR Expo 2010 in Orlando, FL, booth #3030, from Jan. 25-27. Triple-Flex boilers deliver minimum 90% operating efficiency. www.bryanboilers.com.

Taco's Solar Pump Line With Integral Controls:  Taco's latest addition to its 00® family of circulators includes a line of variable speed 00 solar pumps designed to match solar collector output, a feature that increases solar system performance by 20%. Taco's variable speed circulators with integral solar control includes the 009 solar drain-back circulator and several cast iron and non-ferrous pump sizes with integrated controls for jobs of all types and sizes.  www.taco-hvac.com

Noritz's NH Boiler Series: John Siegenthaler addressed an overflow audience of contractors from all across the Northeast on the benefits of Noritz America NH Boiler Series, according to Yoshi Asano, Noritz America senior marketing manager. The event, which was held at Noritz's New York branch showroom on November 5, introduced Noritz's ASME certified tankless hydronic boilers, NH-1501-DV and NH-2001-DV, for both residential and commercial use.

M&M Series 1575: McDonnell & Miller announces the new Series 1575 Low Water Cut-Off / Pump Controller. The Series 1575 provides continuous protection against a low water condition and satisfies pump control needs for commercial steam and hot water boilers. The Series 1575 is used as a low water cut-off, feed water control and alarm for boilers, vessels and tanks and includes a 1Hp pump relay, as well as adjustable burner and pump settings. www.mcdonnellmiller.com.

B&G Low-Flow Balance Valves: Two new Low Flow Automatic Balance Valves featuring a unique field adjusted cartridge that allows the user to select exact flows for specific applications has been introduced by Bell & Gossett. The Low Flow Circuit Sentry and the Low Flow Wye-Strainer are designed for automatic flow limiting style balancing of both HVAC cooling and heating circuits. www.balancevalves.com.

High-Efficiency Hybrid Water Heater: Gas appliance manufacturer Grand Hall USA announced that its Eternal Condensing Hybrid water heater has qualified for Energy Star program. Available in early February 2010, the Eternal Condensing Hybrid is lab-verified at 0.96 EF, which far exceeds federal requirements listed at 0.82 EF. www.eternalcondensed.com.

Joist Space Radiant Heating: REHAU will display its new RAUPLATE joist space radiant heating system (right), among many other products, at the upcoming AHR Expo, Jan. 25-27 in Orlando. Also featured will be the REHAU EDGE professional contractor development program. Visit REHAU at booth 2359 or log on to www.na.rehau.com/heating.

By Dan Holohan

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