DirectProduct News and Technical Information for HVAC Professionals June 2004

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You don’t change a 30+ year old university libraryinto what Pacific Gas and Electric Company callsnorthern California’s most energy efficient buildingwithout careful attention to detail.

Precision Control PlaysImportant Role in SonomaState University Renovation

Sonoma State University had high aspirations forconverting the original Ruben Salazar library intoa multi-use facility and was willing to go the

distance to achieve their goal without a large increasein campus demand for peak power. Be assured, aproject like this demands a lot of careful consideration,from selection of the 106 kW solar photovoltaic systemto the valves and actuators that control water flow anddamper operation in over 100 zones.

Precision Control Means Better Efficiency

Principal engineer, Tony Costa, and design engineer,Edmund Cancio, of Costa Engineers, Inc. were wellaware of the campus goals and budget when selectingthe characterized control valves and actuators thatwould be used on the VAV reheat coils, dampers, andchilled water cooling coils. The valves and actuatorswould play an important role in the system’s overallefficiency, as these VAVs and coils would enable thebuilding to maintain 100% outdoor air and carefullymaintain accurate flows to maintain comfort at thelowest possible pump speed.

It was very important, according to Costa, that they beable to carefully track flow through the coils. Theoperation of the variable frequency drives (VFD) on theheating and cooling systems is based on flow throughthe control valves. Costa knew from experience thatBelimo’s Characterized Control Valves (CCV’s) wereextremely accurate and they, along with directconnected actuators and DDC controls, would enablethe university to continuously monitor every valve in thebuilding and adjust pump flow rates based on valveposition. Minimum required flow rate is attained whenall zones are satisfied and no control valve is more than90% open. It comes down to a well-known engineeringfact: Cut flow in half and you’ll reduce pump

horsepower by the cube. Costa Engineers wasdetermined to make every horsepower count.

Ordinarily, an engineer might select globe valves for thistype of application. However, the engineering firm hadtried the CCVs shortly after they were introduced to themarket in 1999 and subsequently realized they could getthe same accurate control from this "ball-type" controlvalve at significantly less expense, size and weight – andwith higher close-off capability.

This accuracy, says Tony Costa, is a function of twocharacteristics, both of which result in a linear heatoutput. First, actuators for the CCVs are direct-coupled,eliminating typical mechanical linkage, which may, overtime, impede the repeatability of the valve. Second, theCCV has a wide variety of Cv values for each valvesize. Multiple values will allow an engineer to easilysize valves closer to the pipe size, resulting in less timeand money spent on pipe reductions while stillachieving accurate control. Costa was able to selectthe same CCV valve on several different coils andcontinually maintain the same pressure drop across thevalve, which was absolutely critical in this application.Typical variations in pressure would cause other valvesto hunt, resulting in less system accuracy. Simply put,improve the control range of the valve, and you’llreduce overall energy consumption of the system.

The design of the Sonoma control system is a stepabove most others because of the precise control itallows over individual zones. Typically, system VFD’sreact to an "average" in pressure change, rather thanthe individual position of each valve. However, at theRuben Salazar building, operators know exactly whichvalve is at its worse case scenario and can drive thepumps to meet that particular condition withoutconsuming unnecessary energy.

Our patented Characterized Control Valve (CCV)combines an equal percentage flow characteristic with thereliability and economy of a ball-type valve.

The combination of the precision-shaped aperture in thedisc and the specially designed hole in the ball offers slow,precise flow control as the valve is opened. The result isimproved part-load behavior, better stability control, andoptimized energy use.

80% open 50% open 20% open Closed

A view of the CCV disc

Recognition & Rebates

The control valves and damper actuators play animportant role in a very expansive and complexsystem that incorporates 76 kWpAC (kilowatt peakAC output) solar powered energy, a uniquedirect/indirect evaporative cooling system, outdoor aireconomizers, and a stratified chilled water thermalstorage system. According to Keith Marchando,Project Engineer at Sonoma, "There is not aninstallation quite like this, where all of these forms ofenergy conservation come together at this level."

Fully operational since late 2002, the systemcontinues to surpass the goals and expectations ofthe campus and the engineers involved. Thebuilding has been able to maintain an indoortemperature of 72 to 75°F without help from thechilled water system. It uses 42% less energy thanwhat is required by California’s 1998 Title 24Building Standard and Sonoma’s ownobservations indicate that the total system designhas reduced peak load by almost 400 tons on thehottest days of summer.

The Ruben Salazar project earned the Universityan ASHRAE Regional X Award in the category of"Institutional Building, Existing" and an EnergyUser News award for the "Best Education FacilityProject." It has also caught the attention of TheCalifornia Energy Commission and the LawrenceBerkeley National Laboratory, which has hired theDavis Energy Group to further study theperformance of the building. Pacific Gas andElectric Company has also raised a toast to theRuben Salazar building and Sonoma Universitythe tune of $703,200.00 in rebates and incentivesover the last 8 years for this and other energyefficient projects.

“…improve the control range of thevalve, andyou’ll reduce overall energyconsumption”

The CCV product range has grown to give you moreflexibility on your projects. New CCV products include:

• Extended range of CCVs from 1/2” to 3” with Cvvalues of .03 up to 265

• Small non-spring on/off and proportional returnactuators

• High temperature non-spring return actuators

• Flanged CCVs from 2-1/2” to 3” with Cv values up to 256

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www.belimo.com

Belimo Aircontrols (USA), Inc.

43 Old Ridgebury Rd. 1675 East Prater Way 3151 E. Thomas StreetDanbury, CT 06810 Suite 101 Inverness, FL 34453(800) 543-9038 Sparks, NV 89434 (888) 829-3166(203) 791-9915 (800) 987-9042 (352) 637-9280Fax: (800) 228-8283 (775) 857-4243 Fax: (888) 829-3412

(800-ACTUATE) Fax: (775) 857-4255 (352) 637-9634(203) 791-9919 (800) 987-8875

651 South Roselle Rd.Schaumburg, IL 60193(877) 833-1647(847) 352-0528Fax: (877) 833-1663

(847) 352-1442

Belimo Servomoteur, Inc.

2790 Chemin du LacLongueuil, Québec J4N 1B8(866) 928-1440 (450) 928-1440Fax: (450) 928-0050

Belimo Latin America

1250 E. Hallandale Beach BlvdSuite 802Hallandale Beach, FL 33009(954) 456-8077Fax: (954) 456-8092

Belimo Aircontrols (CAN), Inc.

14/16 – 5716 Coopers Ave.Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 2E8(866) 805-7089(905) 712-3118 Fax: (905) 712-3124

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New CCV Products: More Solutions for More Applications

CCVCHARACTERIZED CONTROL VALVE

U.S. Patent 6,039,304

CCV has always offered a high quality solution at a great price advantage compared with globe valves. Now withnew larger sizes the savings is even greater. Compare the new 3” flanged CCV (265 Cv) with typical globe valveswith the same size and Cv rating and you’ll find savings in the 50% range! Call Belimo sales manager for details.

• On/Off, floating, or modulating control

• Easy-to-read position indicator – shows flow pattern for two- andthree-way valves

• Manual override

• Constant running time

• Compact dimensions – 3.25’’ by 2.5’’ by 2.5’’ – perfect for reheatapplications and small spaces

• Protected terminal strip or cable options of 3-ft, 6-ft and 10-ft

• 4 mounting positions

• One central screw for easy mounting

• 24 VAC power

New TR rotary actuators: The small, exceptionally compact TR rotary actuator has beenspecially developed for the motorized operation of 1/2’’ Characterized Control Valves™

And the price is right!