It’s all about Pressure – Cooling Tower Pumps and Piping – Part 5

Norm HallPumps, Cooling Towers, Hydronic System Design, Cooling Towers, Piping and Pumps, Cooling, Cooling Towers, Monday Morning Minutes

Last week the R. L. Deppmann Monday Morning Minute gave an example of a pump selection for which we applied the margin multipliers to arrive at 24.5 feet of net positive suction head required or NPSHR. Now let’s turn our attention to the cooling tower pump suction piping and net positive suction head available or NPSHA. [Read more…]

Where Cavitation Begins – Cooling Tower Pumps and Piping

Norm HallPumps, Cooling Towers, Hydronic System Design, Cooling Towers, Piping and Pumps, Monday Morning Minutes, Cooling, Cooling Towers

Last week the R. L. Deppmann Monday Morning Minute defined NPSHR, and ended with the Hydraulic Institute (HI) definition as the absolute pressure that will cause the total head of the pump to be reduced by 3%, due to flow blockage from cavitation”. Of importance is the fact that it does not say that NPSHR is where cavitation begins.

It’s All About Terms! – Cooling Tower Pumps and Piping – Part 1

Norm HallMonday Morning Minutes, Pumps, Cooling Towers, Hydronic System Design, Cooling Towers, Piping and Pumps, Cooling, Cooling Towers

Most cooling tower designs and installations are commissioned without any issues. The few percent of times where problems arise will cause multiple meetings, emails, finger pointing, and added costs. The issues are not caused by bad luck or bad Karma; tower water pumping issues are typically caused by air, dirt, or improper application. [Read more…]

Plumbing Topic: Domestic Water Recirculation Systems Part 4

Norm HallMonday Morning Minutes, Pumps, Plumbing System Design, Domestic Water Recirculation, Balancing

The last three articles outlined pump selection in domestic water recirculation systems. In general, these systems have low flow and low head pumps. What happens in a high rise with pressure reducing valves (PRV) in the hot water supply? The pressure reducing valve introduces a fixed pressure drop which must be added to the calculations.

Plumbing Topic: Domestic Water Recirculation Systems Part 3

Norm HallPlumbing System Design, Domestic Water Recirculation, Domestic Water Recirculation, Monday Morning Minutes, Pumps

The purpose of the domestic water recirculation system is to delivery hot water near a fixture during times when there is no draw. If someone is using hot water in the next room or apartment or process; the hot water is near enough to your fixture so the hot water is delivered in seconds, not minutes.

B & G ecocirc e3 with ECM Technology (Electronically Commutated Motor)

Norm HallMonday Morning Minutes, Pumps, ECM, Selection and Specification, Inline Pumps

Bell and Gossett’s ecocirc pumps were introduced over the last few weeks. We promised to explain how the ECM technology provides more efficiency than standard induction motors. Let’s talk about the difference between a standard induction motor vs. a permanent magnet motor. With an induction motor, stator windings are arranged around the rotor so that when they’re energized, they create a rotating magnetic field.

NEW PRODUCT: Energy Efficient Ecocirc 19-14 Auto & Vario Heat Circulators

RL DeppmannMonday Morning Minutes, Announcements, Pumps, ECM, Selection and Specification, Inline Pumps

We are very pleased to announce the addition of the new ecocirc 19-14 heating circulators to our line of energy efficient products. As with the rest of the ecocirc line, this new offering also utilizes Electronically Commutated/Permanent Magnet motors, which by design are more efficient than permanent split capacitor induction motors. This technology also offers more flexibility than standard motors allowing us to add features via software logic rather than hardware that would otherwise add cost.

Centrifugal Pump Readout Corrections – Part 2

Gerry PotapaMonday Morning Minutes, Pumps, Commissioning and Balance

Last week the Monday Morning Minute introduced some considerations when using gauge readings to compare with your centrifugal pump curves. Today let’s look at some additional corrections. The vertical axis on the pump curve is the total dynamic head (TDH). When taking gauge readings at the pump tappings provided, we must consider three possible contributors to the