New Lochinvar install. Primary Loop Delta T question

SuperJ

Keep in mind the flow indicated on the Alpha Pump may not be accurate. For the boiler flow, doing temperature delta BTU math is probably more accurate than going off the Alpha screen.

@Adolfo2 I suspect you could probably reduce your primary pumps speed without impacted your amazing comfort and gain a bit of efficiency. I think your Boiler's min flow at max fire is around 5 GPM, but check your manual. This should shave a couple degrees off your average RWT. You could also look into limited your max fire rate to allow for a lower flow setting, since your boiler is oversized for space heating.

EDIT: I just reread your post and you said 7GPM was the minimum flow setting on the pump. You can always throttle a hand valve a bit or install a flow balancing device to fine tune the flow a bit lower.

The Alpha flow is useful as a relative indicator (indicates more or less flow), but hard to trust as an absolute measurement.

NY_Rob

Adolfo2 said:

NY_Rob said:

@Adolfo2... any particular reason you went with three CH pumps vs. a single CH pump and three zone valves?

Nice install BTW!

Thank you! I wanted the increased reliability/redundancy afforded by having multiple pumps w/individual controllers (TACO SR501-845RP) vs. one pump/controller & three zone valves.

Can't argue with that logic.

I kept two of the old 007's from my CI boiler just in case my single Alpha gives up the ghost on a cold day.

Now that I've installed mini-splits with a total heating capacity that's greater than my homes heatloss on DD I'm not as concerned with a short term boiler outage as I was before.

Gordy

Circulators use to last decades.

NY_Rob

The circuit board will probably give out before any mechanical failure. It seems that in the near future you may only be able to get ECM pumps.

Tinman

I agree with what @hotrod said and a couple suggestions, for whatever that's worth -

Move your relays above your pumps. Wire over water is always a good idea to avoid unintended problems.

Move the discharge pipe from the relief valve from the right side of the boiler to the left. It's likely to get in the way when servicing the burner and heat exchanger a year from now.

Adolfo2

Stephen Minnich said:

I agree with what @hotrod said and a couple suggestions, for whatever that's worth -

Move your relays above your pumps. Wire over water is always a good idea to avoid unintended problems.

Move the discharge pipe from the relief valve from the right side of the boiler to the left. It's likely to get in the way when servicing the burner and heat exchanger a year from now.

Hadn't thought about the relays over the pumps (good idea but too late now). Discharge pipe was on LHS but relocated to RHS as there was too much "STUFF" on LHS. Not as bad as it looks as I've already removed the blower in order to clean the combustion chamber and never felt constrained.

Adolfo2

SuperJ said:

Keep in mind the flow indicated on the Alpha Pump may not be accurate. For the boiler flow, doing temperature delta BTU math is probably more accurate than going off the Alpha screen.

@Adolfo2 I suspect you could probably reduce your primary pumps speed without impacted your amazing comfort and gain a bit of efficiency. I think your Boiler's min flow at max fire is around 5 GPM, but check your manual. This should shave a couple degrees off your average RWT. You could also look into limited your max fire rate to allow for a lower flow setting, since your boiler is oversized for space heating.

EDIT: I just reread your post and you said 7GPM was the minimum flow setting on the pump. You can always throttle a hand valve a bit or install a flow balancing device to fine tune the flow a bit lower.

The Alpha flow is useful as a relative indicator (indicates more or less flow), but hard to trust as an absolute measurement.

I like your suggestion for reducing the speed of the primary pump(s) thus reducing RWT by "sucking" more heat out of the baseboard water. Need to see how it affects the last room on a very longggg zone.