Choosing Pumps for Monoflow Hydronic Heating System
Background information:
I previously posted asking for suggestions on how to split my monoflow-plumbed boiler into more zones here:
I’m getting around to doing the work, and I’m trying to figure out what I should do for pumps.
The big zone currently has a Bell and Gossett Series 100 pump. The plumbing is a ~35 foot run of 1-¼” copper (to the far end of the house) where it splits into two 1” runs, about 60’ long each going around the perimeter of the house back to the boiler. Each of these runs serves 5 convectors (3 on first floor and 2 on second floor) which are fed by ½” piping fishing from the monoflow tees which are at the basement ceiling height.
The zone that was added to the big zone at some point (the room is an addition) is plumbed in ¾” with monoflow tees to two convectors. There is about 70’ of pipe with about 10 elbows in the zone.
The existing basement zone has a Taco 110-338. This zone has ¾” piping and is series plumbed to two convectors in the basement. There is about 120 feet of piping in this zone, and about 12 elbows.
Questions:
- Is the Grunfos Alpha 15-58F (link https://www.supplyhouse.com/Grundfos-92603115-ALPHA-15-58F-Smart-ECM-High-Efficiency-Circulator-Pump-with-Optimized-Setpoint-Control) a good choice for replacing the Taco 110-338, and for putting on the newly split zone? This pump is attractive to me because it can show head and flow, and the output can be programmed. I cannot find a pump curve for the 110-338 to see if I can run the 15-58F at the same point.
- Would this same 15-58F be crazy to try out on the big zone too? I know that the B & G Series 100 is a much bigger pump, but I also think that the zone could be over-pumped as is, as my heat calls were not particularly long last winter, and the heat was calling a maximum of 26minutes/hour on the coldest day of the year. I really like the idea of having common pumps that can be programmed. And if one went bad, then a less important zone (the basement) pump could be easily swapped over to the more important zone.
Comments
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The B&G and 110 are similar pumps. Sometimes considered high flow, low head circulators.
How many gpm do you need. The 15-58 will not run out to the gpm of theses two.
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream1 -
Don't know if I got this right:
Basement zone take out taco 110 and install a Grundfoss 15-58F. Yes that looks ok to me.
So the zone with the B& G 100 does an existing split monoflow zone which you want to make two zones?
Is the existing zone that was added getting its own pump or staying on 1/2 of the B & G zone?
You have to be a little cautious with Monoflow. They always seem to take more pump than they should.
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Thanks for finding that curve for me! Maybe adding the -338 on the model number was messing up my results. It seems like way too high flow of a pump for a 3/4" pipe! I would guess that it was originally on the main zone, and was switched over at some point.
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Here's a link to a diagram of the system as it exists. https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/MD4E42AR8SSK/heating-system-existing.png
So the big zone was originally for the whole main house. It does a split which I think may be unusual. At some point not long after the house was built, a small addition was added, and the heat for that got scabbed onto the monoflow zone. There are balance valves to make sure all legs of the single zone get flow. I want to remove the "scab" from the main zone, and add a pump so that it can be its own zone.0 -
So 1 circ for the basement
1 circ for the existing monoflow-the scab zone- this zone will stay as a split loop
1 circ for the scab zone.????????????
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correct.
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I would use the 15-58FC (1)for the basement zone and also (1) for the "scab" zone.
I would find a circ that matches the B & G 100 (that was the original circ) for the big zone. That is the "safe choice" I doubt the 15-58FC would pump the monoflow tees very well.
hears the thing.
The monoflow system was designed for a certain flow. Even if it is more flow than it needs the monoflow tees need that flow to distribute the gpm to the rads effectively
JMHO
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those two pumps , the series 100 and the 110 are known as flat curve pumps . They are ideal for zone valved systems
Pumps like to run in the middle of their curve for best efficiency and long life
So about 15 gpm, and 6-8’ head
If the design was around a 20 delta, estimate 15 gpm= 150,000 btu/ hr
ideally you want to knowType of fluid
Required gph
Head
To size a circulator
I would shop for an ECM style for efficiency snd a lot of adjustability
There are energy rebates available in some areas for using ECM circs
Www.dsireausea.com
is where you find incentive $$
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream0
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