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WILO- pronounced Vee-lo- savings update

Steamhead
Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
Last year we replaced a Taco 3HP base-mounted circ pump in a church with a 2HP Wilo Stratos 3x3-40. The church in question has two zones and the old pump ran all the time with a pressure bypass valve to keep it from dead-heading. There were three dead pumps in the boiler room so this system needed something better.



Since we installed the Stratos, the church reports they saved 11% of their electricity and 19% of their gas, even though this winter was colder. The latter is probably because the flow rates are a bit less, especially when only one zone is calling. There is still some control upgrading to be done when they're ready, like outdoor reset.



Not sure if these savings are typical, but this is what we achieved. Smart circs rule!



Thanks to Mike Reavis of Harry Eklof Associates for his help on this. I'll post pics when I find them.
All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting

Comments

  • Kudos Frank!,,,

    Even on my small system Wilo made a HUGE difference in my consumption.

    I used to be a Taco guy,,, are they still playing with a name?, has anyone heard?

    Screw the car,,, get-it out there!!
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited July 2010
    Here's the original thread.......

    what there is of it:



    http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/127119/Wilo-Stratos-Intelligent-Pump-Highly-Recommended



    Gordo is looking for the pics.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Gordo
    Gordo Member Posts: 856
    These are the Before Pictures...

    The old pump was cavitating so badly, that it sounded like gravel rolling around in the volute.



    The four old pumps were hauled to the recyclers and tipped the scales at nearly 700 pounds.



    The "after" pictures have been lost during a computer change-over.  We'll be back there to take some new ones.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    "Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/all-steamed-up-inc
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    wow..

    I'll have to try one of those commercial sized units when the opportunity presents itself. Bet the church people are happy, as i imagine with this economy the hat is less filled once its passed around.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Got some so-so "after" pics

    all I had was my cell phone. But here they are. 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Techman
    Techman Member Posts: 2,144
    Just asking

    Does Taco not have a 2hp circ that would do the job? Is the new Wilo 2hp utilizing the bypass? Thanks!
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited August 2010
    What we wanted

    was a smart circ that could adjust its flow according to how many zones were calling. I don't think anyone else had such a unit at that time.



    We removed the bypass, it was no longer needed.



    We still have a control update to do here- there's no outdoor reset and the pump is still powered up all the time. The WILO can ramp down to almost nothing, but it still should shut off if the zones are not calling. They'll save more once the de-knuckleheading is done.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Techman
    Techman Member Posts: 2,144
    Steamhead

    Thanks for the reply.As always ,you are a very good read ! Respectfuly, Techman{Terry}!
  • scott markle_2
    scott markle_2 Member Posts: 611
    efficiency gains

    Love the new pumps and what they can do, but a 19% decrease in fuel use seems hard to believe. Do you have any thoughts on how that is achieved... where was all that wasted energy going in the bad old days of fixed speed over-pumping.
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    Wilo Smart Pump:

    My wholesaler had a eat lunch and look back in November with Veissmann, Wilo and Califfi. I liked the Veismans and was really impressed with that Smart Pump. So much so, I bought one on the spot for my own house with five zones with Zone Valves. It does work. I had the speed set a little slow and on a cold day, I noticed it wasn't recovering like the old 007, I dialed it up a notch and it came right back. So it is doing something. As far as how much money I will save, who knows. It probably won't pay for itself. But it does do something and I'm happy with it. And when only one zone valve is open, it's not being over pumped.

    FWIW,
  • Energy Savings

    Steamhead - 11% electrical savings for the whole church!  That's really great.  It would be interesting to get the accumulated power consumption off the Stratos data logger to know the actual pump's electrical savings.



    The system savings even with a colder winter is interesting too.  Makes me think about the recent post about boiler eff ratings.  If a condensing, high eff boiler ain't condensing the eff can not be over 86% - this is where variable flow pumps/circs make a HUGE difference in system eff and comfort - note the political correctness ;-).
This discussion has been closed.