SPECIAL FEATURES PIPES, PUMPS AND VALVES This month: Pump performance, greywater recycling, pathogen checklist, water treatment STAYING ACTIVE Smart pump technology and remote-monitoring solutions offer the opportunity to optimise HVAC systems for energy efficiency and cost savings and could aid design decisions in energy-upgrade projects if implemented early on. Phil Lattimore reports T he transition to increased remote working since March 2020 has impacted on many aspects of office life, but one trend that has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic is the demand for remote monitoring of HVAC systems to optimise performance and energy efficiency. For Armstrong Fluid Technology a manufacturer of intelligent fluid flow equipment, including pumps, valves, heat exchangers and control solutions interest in its Active Performance Management (APM) suite of remote-monitoring and performance-tracking solutions has grown significantly since the first UK lockdown. Stephen Hart, UK sales director for Armstrong Fluid Technology, says: The market is moving towards more detailed real-time analysis of equipment operating conditions. Being able to see how system components are performing in real time is crucial to reduce costs and improve environmental performance of buildings. Without information on fluid flow across the system, its difficult to diagnose and optimise efficiency. With accurate flow information, the picture changes entirely. A suite of solutions was developed to help optimise HVAC systems at any stage of a buildings life-cycle, responding to changing HVAC requirements including during system upgrades to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. With the installation in a HVAC system of the firms Design Envelope intelligent pumps which feature built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and smart-monitoring capabilities flow data from a HVAC system can be used with the intelligent software platform to inform a buildings energy management team how its operating. Real-time alerts on the performance of the HVAC system enable them to optimise efficiency and reduce energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort. The Cloud-based pump management provides performance reports to system operators manufacturer claims this can deliver annual energy savings of up to 40%. Among the options offered in the intelligent software platform is a cloudbased subscription service that leverages smart pump capability to provide performance reports to system operators. Such monitoring services can also be used to predict and identify potential technical issues that could impact on the operation of the pump such as excessive vibration, broken couplings, impeller imbalance, bearing failure, seal failures and shaft misalignment before they become a problem. Packages may be integrated with building management systems, environmental management systems, and computerised maintenance management systems, as well as providing software gateways through APIs and integration with apps and devices. Information from intelligent software platforms may provide analysis across multiple parameters on single pumps, or aggregated for multiple pumps, offering a scalable solution for new and retrofit applications. The systems are able to provide continuous optimisation and a subsequent reduction in unexpected failures and system downtime. The software can also produce energy-use and environmental-performance data for HVAC systems, to help organisations with relevant environmental reporting requirements. Upgrade solution As well as improving building energy management and maintenance for existing HVAC systems, smart pump technology and associated www.cibsejournal.com October 2021 59 CIBSE Oct21 pp59-60 Pump peformance.indd 59 24/09/2021 17:42