With the newest OPTIMA Compact valve and LOGICA Digital actuator, Frese provides deep insight into heating and cooling systems, allowing for full energy optimisation in both commissioning and operation.
This ensures that the HVAC system is performing at its very best at all times.
Frese, well known for its pressure independent control valve (PICV) technology, is launching two new products which, when combined, make it possible to both commission and operate a heating or cooling system at a fully optimised level.
With this solution Frese continues to bring its decades of know-how and expertise on flow management technology into the digital age.
Frese product manager, Andy Gibbs, said this solution has strong benefits in all phases of a building project.
“It reduces installation and system commissioning time significantly,” he said.
“There are huge advantages for system integrators due to the many functionalities built into the actuators’ algorithms.
“It contains live monitoring of system status and is easy to maintain. And because of the significant energy savings it is good for the bottom line, both financially and environmentally.”
The two-tier solution consists of the OPTIMA Compact, Veriflow-series valve and the LOGICA Digital, Energy-series actuator.
The OPTIMA Compact Veriflow series is an extended version of the company’s world leading PICV, the OPTIMA Compact. Every feature and benefit from the original product can still be found in the Veriflow-series.
These include simplified system design, ease of selection, system flexibility and minimised commissioning time. The valve also combines high performance with small size and compact construction.
The major benefit is the significant energy savings that can be achieved in HVAC systems through maximising Delta T and eliminating overflows in the system.
In addition, the OPTIMA Compact, Veriflow-series offers a brand-new P/T plug design on the DN10-DN50 range and an additional P/T plug on larger sizes up to DN300.
This allows for both flow verification and verification of minimum differential pressure across the valve. This is the first PICV on the market to integrate both functionalities in the original valve housing without add-ons and additional space requirements.
Global HVAC product manager at Frese, Przemyslaw Klosiak, said it was named the Veriflow-series because it provides verification of the flow through the valve.
“We are giving commissioning engineers the proven method for measuring flow that they have relied on for decades. And because we have built these features directly into the pressure independent control valve itself, there is no additional pressure loss involved. It costs absolutely nothing in terms of energy,” he said.
“With this evidence the engineers can be completely certain that the system has been commissioned and balanced optimally for the sizing conditions.”
While the mechanical side of the package – the PICV – is based on a long tradition of Frese products,
The LOGICA Digital, Energy-series is another step in a new direction for the company.
This incredibly compact digital actuator is designed to optimise energy usage in HVAC systems during operation through direct communication with the building’s BMS via either Modbus or BACnet.
Because of that connectivity many tasks that would have required hands-on management can now be achieved remotely in the BMS.
Today commissioning is a time-consuming task. With this digital actuator it can be done remotely. The same goes for recommissioning in case of changes to the system or to individual terminal units.
Remote full flow flushing without PICV stroke limitation is also possible. In everyday operation it optimises system performance with several key features and makes it simple for system integrators to manage, due to built-in algorithms, which take over tasks like power transfer optimisation.
"Many buildings, especially if they have cooling systems, suffer from "Low Delta T Syndrome,” Gibbs said.
“When the temperature difference between supply and return is too low, not enough energy gets transferred to the room.
“This results in massive energy loss, which is both inefficient and expensive. LOGICA Digital has builtin Delta T control which will decrease the flow requirements on the pump and ensure constant system performance optimization.
“Aside from keeping the system in perfect functioning order, LOGICA Digital, Energy-series provides the insight right down to the individual terminal unit that enables system integrators and facility managers to analyse and act on potential improvements and enact new energy efficiency strategies.”