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VPF

VARIABLE PRIMARY FLOW

VPF RHOSS:
a step forward in the variable
flow systems
VPF RHOSS:
THE NEW BREAKTHROUGH
IN PLANT ENGINEERING
The energy consumption of ancillary The solution introduced by Rhoss
components in air conditioning offers benefits such as reduced
systems (pumping, ventilation, etc) can energy consumption of the pumping
no longer be neglected in the approach groups with consequent cost savings,
to NZEB design. combined with reliability and simplified
Consumption must be balanced with system management.
production of energy from renewable Using these systems significantly helps
sources on site or nearby, so the new the building to achieve a better score in
“equivalent photovoltaic surfaces” the LEED certification.
parameter becomes a fundamental
indicator when comparing the different
solutions.
Cooling systems with VPF (Variable
Primary Flow), ideal for medium to
large cooling capacities, represent an
interesting alternative to the traditional
constant flow systems.

VPF RHOSS Video


The solution to reduce pump energy
consumption
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➊ CONSTANT Systems and energy consumption
SPEED PUMP
The energy consumption of ancillary components in air
conditioning systems (pumping, ventilation, etc) can no longer
be neglected in the approach to NZEB design.
Plants used in the past foresaw a primary loop (chiller side)
CONSTANT and secondary loop (user side) both constant flow separated
SPEED PUMP by a hydraulic decoupler which, on one hand, guaranteed
function stability and reliability and, on the other, high energy
consumption (figure 1).
Results can vary considerably from one building to the next; but
pumping energy costs fluctuate between 20% and 40% of the
Primary - Secondary constant flow consumption of chillers or heat pumps; and the percentage can
reach 10% at building level.
Energy consumption can be reduced considerably by using
variable water flow systems (VPF) instead of traditional constant
VARIABLE
➋ SPEED PUMP
flow systems. What is important is maintaining reliability and
safety at maximum levels.

Traditional variable water flow systems


CONSTANT Variable water flow distribution systems, currently the most
SPEED PUMP commonly used, have a primary loop with constant water flow
and a secondary, variable flow one, separated by a hydraulic
decoupler (figure 2). In this case, the biggest part of energy
consumption related to pumping is linked to the constant flow
Primary constant flow pump
Secondary variable flow A way to reduce pumping consumption even more is to create a
system with a single variable speed pump and a single primary
loop with bypass pipe and bypass valve, (VPF Traditional –
figure 3).
BYPASS
➌ VALVE
This system, used by some manufacturers, on the one hand
partially reduces energy consumption, but on the other hand
introduces risk of instability due to oscillations that can affect
chiller reliability. The bypass valve, whilst ensuring the minimum
flow through the evaporator, also represents the most critical
VARIABLE component of the system.
SPEED PUMP

VPF RHOSS
RHOSS, in the continuous research for advanced energy saving
TRADITIONAL VPF: solutions, has introduced the VPF RHOSS into the market.
Primary variable flow The solution proposed includes a primary/secondary system,
+ bypass valve both variable water flow, and a hydraulic decoupler (figure 4).
On the one hand, the VPF RHOSS further increases
pumping cost savings compared to the traditional VPF and,
VARIABLE on the other, eliminates the intrinsic critical issues, guaranteeing
➍ SPEED PUMP high stability with no oscillation, increased reliability of
the chiller and the system-plant components.

The installation of several chillers in parallel benefits from the


system solution offered by the VPF RHOSS, with simplified
VARIABLE
SPEED PUMP management, precision in the temperature of water supplied
to utilities and reliability even when there are perturbations or
fluctuations due to factors that are usually out of control.

VPF RHOSS:
Primary variable flow
Secondary variable flow
VPF RHOSS:
THE MOST EFFICIENT SOLUTION
TO REDUCE PUMPING
CONSUMPTION

U M P
RT E RP
IN V E G E
A
S
N
I TS
D I N G
M P H
C ACCO NDR
U
THE P ION SPEEDOAD DEMA
ROTATE USERS’ L
TO TH
• High stability with no oscillation
• High chiller and heat pumps reliability
• High reliability of system-plant components
• Pump energy consumption reduced up to 90%
The reduction of water flow allows saving energy according to the load request and there are no limits to
needed for pumping. In the VPF RHOSS, reduction in modulation except for those related to the pump itself.
consumption is tangible and creates the difference with The pump in the primary loop (chiller side) decreases
traditional VPF systems. the flow when the plant load drops; in parallel with the
The chillers and heat pumps can accept a water flow secondary loop pump at the beginning, stopping the
variation through the evaporators as long as it remains modulation then when the minimum safety value set
within a certain interval and the transition is not too has been reached.
fast. Any oscillation and pendulation in the water flow is
The VPF RHOSS allows, with great flexibility, the then managed in the decoupler without affecting the
variation of the secondary loop flow (user side) operation and the reliability of the chiller.

M P
E R T
PU
I O N
E RT R
S EO TA
V E
IN MP CHA G TO T GY DEM
N G H A N D
E P U ORDIN ENER
TH ACC CUIT
P E E D Y CIR
S NDAR
SECO
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
OF THE BENEFITS OF VPF RHOSS
Constant circuit geometry = accurate control of water flow
and maximum energy savings

The VPF Rhoss solution introduces the inverter managed primary/ In the other cases or with traditional VPF, circuit geometry varies
secondary system, both with variable flow. The primary loop pump continuously and thus energy saving drops because the previous
regulates the flow based on the load to reduce pumping power ratio is no longer applicable. The direct correlation as between
input [P= f (Q)3]. water flow and pump rpms is also lost. (reference “HVAC systems
This important decrease is only valid for the VPF RHOSS where the with variable primary flow: analysis on energy potential saving” –
primary loop has fixed geometry (see figure below). 50th international AICARR Conference MATERA 2017).

∆p 160% ∆p 160%
61%
140% 140% 65%
68%
Valves closure
120% 120% 61%
70%
65%
68%
100% 65% 100% 68%
61% 70%
65%
65% 68% 68%
80% 80% 70%
61%
65% 65% 68%
68%
60% n = 100% 60% 70% n = 100%
65% 61% 68%
65% 68%
n = 90% 70% n = 90%
65% 68%
40% 40% 61% 65%
68% 70%
65% n = 80% 68% n = 80%

20% n = 70% 20% n = 70%


n = 60% n = 60%
n = 50% n = 50%
0% 0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140% 160% Q 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140% 160% Q

PRIMARY SECONDARY
CIRCUIT CIRCUIT

The concept is highlighted in the calculation formula below; it The third discriminating dimension is the pump efficiency (η).
shows that the power absorbed by a pump varies mainly with the This dimension is also only constant for pump modulation if the
flow processed (Q) and the related head (Dp) and both dimensions curve characteristic of the hydraulic circuit does not change
depend on the pump rotation speed (n). (primary VPF RHOSS).

kn yn2
.
m ∆p Q ∆p f (n)3
P= pη = η = η
Operating stability and guarantee of Optimised management of more units
reliability connected in parallel

The decrease in pumping power input is linked to the water flow Management of several chillers or heat pumps connected in a
variation based on the load required by the system. hydraulic parallel, operating in a variable water flow system, could
Some conditions must be guaranteed: in particular, respect of be complex due to the presence of multiple regulating parts
the minimum water flow of the evaporator which is at 40-50% of with different reaction times for closure, opening and modulation
nominal. This water flow rate is reached at about 80%-75% of (mainly valves and pumps).
the nominal cooling plant load and the flow must remain constant With traditional VPF, these transitory phenomena show their
below that level. maximum critical issues during the chiller restarting stage after
For traditional VPF, the bypass valve guarantees the minimum stand-by, as the pump restart times are not always the same as
flow in the evaporator and its operation becomes more complex those of the by-pass valve. The resulting reduction in water flow
when a low number of terminal units is installed in the system (ref. of the chiller operating at the time can create serious danger for
AICARR Handbook for Hydronic design). possible liquid strokes to compressors (ref. AICARR Handbook
The systems could also have physiological flow oscillations due for Hydronic design).
to the dynamics or valve regulation or any malfunctioning. With several chillers connected in hydraulic parallel, the VPF
Tests carried out in the Rhoss R&D laboratory proved that at RHOSS solution becomes the safest, most reliable and effective
50% of nominal chiller water flow with traditional VPF, even with way to design and manage the system because
proper set-up of the bypass valve and minimum flow oscillations there is no by-pass valve and the hydraulic
in the system loop, very wide oscillations in the real chiller flow decoupler is introduced and
were experienced, exceeding by far the limits allowed for the guarantees the minimum water
evaporator (reference “HVAC systems with variable primary flow: flow for the evaporator.
analysis on energy potential saving” – 50th international AICARR
Conference MATERA 2017).

Q 53% TRADITIONAL VPF


52%
51%
50%
49%
48%
47%
46%
45%
44%
43%
42%
41%
40%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Time (minuts)
Water flow (user side)
Water flow (through evaporator)

(%) 12%
Valve 10%
Opening 8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Time (minuts)

The VPF RHOSS system overcomes these critical issues as the


primary loop is independent of any secondary loop oscillation
thanks to the hydraulic decoupler. So the pumps can operate
correctly to enable real energy savings.

Q 100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Inverter pump
50%
Inverter primary pump
40%
30%
20% Inverter secondary
pump
10%
0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
TRADITIONAL VPF Power required by the system
VPF Rhoss
up to up to up to

232 m 87 % 15 t/a
2

REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

NOTE:
ANNUAL PUMPING - OFFICES Graph of the annual costs based on the
€/kWh energy cost considering:
- reference building - 7 floor office
€ 12.000 building with net air conditioned
surface of 11600 m2;
- envelope insulation as prescribed by
€ 10.000 P-S-C law;
- the equipment used is an EXP
polyvalent system for air conditioning
€ 8.000 application.

€ 6.000
PC-SV
€ 4.000
PV+BPV

€ 2.000
VPF RHOSS P-S V

€-
€ 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25

P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
system systems

up to up to up to

368 m 76 % 24 t/a
2

REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

NOTE:
ANNUAL PUMPING - HOTEL Graph of the annual costs based on the
€/kWh energy cost considering:
- reference building - 6 floor hotel
€ 20.000 with net air conditioned surface of
P-S-C
11300m 2;
€ 18.000 - envelope insulation as prescribed
by law;
€ 16.000 - the equipment used is an EXP
polyvalent system for air conditioning
€ 14.000 application and DHW production.

€ 12.000
€ 10.000 PC-SV

€ 8.000 PV+BPV

€ 6.000
€ 4.000 VPF RHOSS P-S V

€ 2.000
€-
€ 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25

P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
system systems

MILAN
ROME up to

240 m
2
up to

87 %
up to

18 t/a
REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

ANNUAL PUMPING - OFFICES


€ 14.000

€ 12.000 P-S-C

€ 10.000

€ 8.000

€ 6.000
PC-SV

€ 4.000 PV+BPV

NOTE: € 2.000
Graph of the annual costs based on the VPF RHOSS P-S V
€/kWh energy cost considering:
- reference building - 7 floor office €-
building with net air conditioned
surface of 11600 m2; € 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25
- envelope insulation as prescribed by
law; P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
- the equipment used is an EXP PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
polyvalent system for air conditioning system systems
application.

up to up to up to

326 m 75 % 24 t/a
2

REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

ANNUAL PUMPING - HOTEL


€ 20.000
P-S-C
€ 18.000
€ 16.000
€ 14.000
€ 12.000
PC-SV
€ 10.000
€ 8.000 PV+BPV

€ 6.000
€ 4.000 VPF RHOSS P-S V
NOTE:
Graph of the annual costs based on the € 2.000
€/kWh energy cost considering:
- reference building - 6 floor hotel
with net air conditioned surface of
€-
11300 m 2; € 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25
- envelope insulation as prescribed
by law; P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
- the equipment used is an EXP PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
polyvalent system for air conditioning system systems
application and DHW production.
up to up to up to

191 m 85 % 11 t/a
2

REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

NOTE:
ANNUAL PUMPING - OFFICES Graph of the annual costs based on the
€/kWh energy cost considering:
- reference building - 7 floor office
€ 8.000 building with net air conditioned
P-S-C surface of 11600 m2;
- envelope insulation as prescribed by
€ 7.000 law;
- the equipment used is an EXP
polyvalent system for air conditioning
€ 6.000 application.

€ 5.000

€ 4.000
PC-SV

€ 3.000
PV+BPV

€ 2.000

€ 1.000 VPF RHOSS P-S V

€-
€ 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25

P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
system systems

up to up to up to

324 m 76 % 19 t/a
2

REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

NOTE:
ANNUAL PUMPING - HOTEL Graph of the annual costs based on the
€/kWh energy cost considering:
- reference building - 6 floor hotel
€ 16.000 with net air conditioned surface of
11300m 2;
P-S-C
- envelope insulation as prescribed
€ 14.000 by law;
- the equipment used is an EXP
€ 12.000 polyvalent system for air conditioning
application and DHW production.

€ 10.000
PC-SV
€ 8.000
PV+BPV
€ 6.000

€ 4.000
VPF RHOSS P-S V

€ 2.000

€-
€ 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25

P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
system systems

LONDON
BERLIN up to

234 m
2
up to

90 %
up to

13 t/a
REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

ANNUAL PUMPING - OFFICES


€ 9.000
P-S-C
€ 8.000

€ 7.000

€ 6.000

€ 5.000

€ 4.000 PC-SV

€ 3.000 PV+BPV

€ 2.000
NOTE:
Graph of the annual costs based on the € 1.000 VPF RHOSS P-S V
€/kWh energy cost considering:
- reference building - 7 floor office €-
building with net air conditioned
surface of 11600 m2; € 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25
- envelope insulation as prescribed by
law; P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
- the equipment used is an EXP PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
polyvalent system for air conditioning system systems
application.

up to up to up to

378 m 77 % 21 t/a
2

REDUCTION
EQUIVALENT REDUCTION
IN PRIMARY
PHOTOVOLTAIC OF EMISSIONS
ENERGY
SURFACE SAVED OF CO 2
CONSUMPTION

ANNUAL PUMPING - HOTEL


€ 18.000

€ 16.000 P-S-C

€ 14.000

€ 12.000

€ 10.000
PC-SV
€ 8.000
PV+BPV
€ 6.000

€ 4.000
VPF RHOSS P-S V
NOTE: € 2.000
Graph of the annual costs based on the
€/kWh energy cost considering: €-
- reference building - 6 floor hotel
with net air conditioned surface of € 0,15 € 0,17 € 0,19 € 0,21 € 0,23 € 0,25
11300 m 2;
- envelope insulation as prescribed
by law; P-S-C Constant primary and secondary system PV+BPV Variable primary system and bypass valve
- the equipment used is an EXP PC - SV Constant primary and variable secondary P-S V VPF RHOSS: variable primary and secondary
polyvalent system for air conditioning system systems
application and DHW production.
K15554EN ed.1 - 05.17
RHOSS S.P.A.
Via Oltre Ferrovia, 32 - 33033 Codroipo (UD) - Italy
tel. +39 0432 911611 - fax +39 0432 911600
rhoss@rhoss.it - www.rhoss.it - www.rhoss.com

IR GROUP SARL
RHOSS S.P.A. disclaims any liability for any errors in this printout and shall be free to modify its

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