76-800

May, 2012

THE TECHNICAL TIMES

High Efficiency Boiler Retrofits and Terminal Equipment
As the market moves towards higher efficiency boilers, an area that sometimes goes
overlooked is existing terminal equipment. This doesnt come up in every situation, but when an
existing boiler is replaced with a new condensing model, supply water temperature generally
decreases significantly, to around 140F. This drop in entering water temperature (EWT) to the
terminal equipment comes with a significant performance penalty (42% when compared to 200F
EWT!) and may require either additional terminal equipment or replacement of existing terminal
equipment with larger capacity models. Another important consideration is that the Final Air
Temperature leaving the units will be significantly lower when low EWTs are used, which may
result in occupant complaints.
Shown below are tables for Horizontal Unit heaters and Cabinet Unit heaters with BTU
outputs for both 200F and 140F EWT. As an example, if a space currently has an HSB-63 and
200F EWT, the new output will be 26,038 BTU, down from 45,600 BTU! Meeting the heating
requirements of the space now means either adding another HSB-63 or replacing the existing unit
with an HSB-108.
Table 1.1 Hot Water Unit Heater Data
Model Size

Table 1.2 Cabinet Unit Heater Data

BTU/hr Output

BTU/hr Output
Model Size

200F Water

140F Water

HSB/HC-18
HSB/HC-24
HSB/HC-33
HSB/HC-47
HSB/HC-63
HSB/HC-86
HSB/HC-108
HSB/HC-121
HSB/HC-165
HSB/HC-193
HSB/HC-258
HSB/HC-290

12,600
16,200
21,700
30,900
45,600
60,200
83,700
93,000
130,900
143,000
201,900
228,600

7,195
9,250
12,391
17,644
26,038
34,374
47,793
53,103
74,744
81,653
115,285
130,531

* All ratings are for 20 WTD, high fan speed , single row coil
(CUH), and 60F EAT

HSB/HC-340

271,100

154,798

* 140F Water Correction Factor is 0.571.

200F Water

140F Water

12,400

7,080

22,400

12,790

28,400

16,216

44,800

25,581

49,000

27,979

10

55,900

31,919

12

72,400

41,340

14

79,500

45,395

The tables below show Final Air Temperatures (FAT) for the models described above.
The FAT is calculated by using the formula shown below:

1.085

Table 2.1 Hot Water Unit Heater Data

Model Size

Table 2.2 Cabinet Unit Heater Data

Final Air Temperature (F)

200F Water

140F Water

HSB/HC-18
HSB/HC-24
HSB/HC-33
HSB/HC-47
HSB/HC-63
HSB/HC-86
HSB/HC-108
HSB/HC-121
HSB/HC-165
HSB/HC-193
HSB/HC-258
HSB/HC-290

93
100
91
98
97
101
98
107
96
105
100
105

79
83
78
82
81
83
82
87
81
86
83
86

HSB/HC-340

108

87

Final Air Temperature (F)

Model Size

200F Water

140F Water

106

86

123

96

118

93

127

98

114

91

10

109

88

12

114

91

14

111

89

* All ratings are for 20 WTD, high fan speed , single row coil
(CUH), and 60F EAT

Stepping back to take a complete view of the system will identify any spaces where the terminal
units will not provide enough heat and allow for proper sizing of the new boiler if additional
heaters are required. This big picture approach will prevent any surprises at installation and
commissioning, and will ensure happy customers and space occupants.

Commercial Products Group Modine Manufacturing Company 1500 DeKoven Avenue Racine, WI USA 53403-2552
Phone: 1.866.823.1631 www.modinehvac.com
Modine Manufacturing Company 2012

76-800