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M ore building owners are turning to engineers and contractors to select and install smart pumps — products that contain the functionality and controls to adjust an HVAC system to meet real-time demand — in new and retrofit systems to achieve efficiency requirements for green building certifications and net-zero design. As the push for smart, energy- efficient systems continues to drive commercial and residential building, it is important to remember that highly efficient and technologically advanced components of HVAC systems, such as circulator pumps, do not by themselves make an HVAC system efficient. Each component must be designed, installed and operated as part of the complete system in order to achieve efficiency goals related to energy consumption. For circulators, this means the pumps will operate at higher levels of efficien- cy over a broader range of operating conditions and pump speed will adjust to meet system demands. With the introduction of smart technologies and impending regulatory guidelines, circulators will continue to be of interest. SMART FEATURES Designed with more functionality and intelligence than ever before, circula- tors can react to occupant behavior and expectations and tailor energy and resource consumption to meet system demands. Many circulators contain program- ming that provides instantaneous communication between the building and its administrator — enabling facil- ity managers to remotely monitor the pump and system around-the-clock. The advanced analytics generated by integrated drives with sensorless technology also incorporate algorithms that enable the circulator to monitor its power requirements and automatically adjust to meet system demands. Many large circulators contain BACnet capability, which enables them to be linked to a building management system to increase communication with other building systems. Data from the circulators can be connected to other components of the building, like water supply, and adjust water pressure systems to meet building needs. CONSERVATION STANDARDS The most efficient circulators on the market contain electronically commu- tated motors. If proposed regulations under consideration by the Department of Energy become law, all circulators will be required to include this technol- ogy if manufacturers wish to sell them beyond 2022. On Nov. 30, 2016, the Appliance Federal Rulemaking Advisory Committee working group, made up of Hydraulic Institute members and pump manufacturer representatives, negotiated a final term sheet that contains a test procedure and energy conservation standards for circulator pumps and presented it to the DOE. When the DOE publishes the test procedure and energy conservation standards, a notice of proposed rulemaking will be issued prior to the final rule, followed by a four-year compliance period during which manufacturers can upgrade circulators to meet the new standards or retire inefficient products. It is recommended by the working group that the DOE makes its best effort to publish the final test procedure and energy conservation standard for circulator pumps by the end of the 2017 calendar year. ECM circulators have already begun replacing circulators with induction mo- tors in the marketplace because perma- nent magnet motors are the technology of choice to achieve higher efficiency — helping to boost system performance by up to 85 percent. Circulators operat- ing at different speeds provide greater system control and flexibility compared to constant-speed circulators. Additional advantages of newer ECM circulators include quicker startup in a system and easy-to-read interface displays. ECM circulators can easily be programmed with six to eight button pushes and the pump's interface clearly displays the flow rate, head, speed and power consumption. REBATE PROGRAMS Many states, like Vermont, have imple- mented rebate programs to incentivize the installation of smart pumps in homes and commercial buildings and enable distributors to partner with contractors to install energy-saving equipment in their communities. Efficiency Vermont, an organization that provides energy-efficiency services to homes and businesses throughout the state, provides technical assistance and financial incentives — up to $600 at the time of purchase — for qualifying circulator pumps at the wholesale level. To learn more about rebate programs and eligible products, contact a local contractor or sales representative. As we look ahead, circulators will continue to play a key role in making building systems smarter and more connected to achieve efficiency goals and optimize system performance. Jack Kang is a product line manager for centrifugal pumps at Xylem Applied Water Systems. Andrew Omer-Cooper is a product manager for circulators at Xylem Applied Water Systems. Eric White is a senior product specialist for circulators at Xylem Applied Water Systems. Smart circulators will continue to drive system efficiency B Y J A C K K A N G , A N D R E W O M E R - C O O P E R & E R I C W H I T E LOOKING AHEAD Bell & Gossett's ecocirc XL is a highly effi cient circulator that enhances commercial hydronic systems with superior quality and dependability. The ecocirc SMART heating circulator from Bell & Gossett contains a permanent magnet motor that eliminates the requirement for input power to magnetize the rotor, thus maximizing effi ciency. HVACPproducts.com HVAC & Plumbing Product News \ Summer 2017 14