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Tertiary Pumping
In Air-conditioning Systems
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Air conditioning systems

Improved balancing by Tertiary pumps

Colling tower Heat recovery Fan coils M Cooling ceiling

Pressure
holding

Cooling surface
M

Primary Buffer
pump tank

Chiller Secondary
pumps
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System with only secondary pumps

Air Air Fan Air Fan
unit unit coils unit coils

H
Max. Buffer
tank
Dp
Dp: connection point

Dp Dp: pipes,
secondary control valves
fan coils etc.
pump
Qmax. Q
Distance/pressure profile

Air Air Fan Air Fan

System with tertiary pumps unit unit coils unit coils

Tertiary pumps
H
M M M M M

Buffer
tank

Max.
Dp: connection point
Dp
Dp
Dp:
secondary
Q pump
control valve
Qmax.
Distance/pressure profile
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Air Air Fan Air Fan

Hybrid System unit unit coils unit coils

Tertiary pumps
H
M M M M M

Buffer
tank

Max.
Dp: connection point
Dp
Dp
Dp:
secondary
Q pump
control valve
Qmax.
Distance/pressure profile
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Tertiary Systems….Few points

 Tertiary pumps can be Variable speed…….

 Tertiary pumps can be fixed speed also….
 Mixing loops are not mandatory in tertiary loops…
 But mixing loops add flexibility in the overall air-
conditioning system…
 Tertiary pumps PLC should be controlled by DPT signal
(if variable speed panel is used)…
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Tertiary Systems….Few points

 For Secondary pumps only friction loss upto zone

termination point should be taken care…
 For Tertiary pumps friction loss of valves, coil etc should
be taken care….
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Advantages with Tertiary pumps

1. Smaller secondary pumps, motor and drives

2. Lower differential pressure in all connection points
3. Lower operation cost
4. Higher flexibility if the system have to be redesigned
5. Each to find the right location for the Dp sensor
6. Minimized risk of “over sizing” secondary pumps
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Mixing Loops
In Air-conditioning Systems
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Mixing loops

• Why mixing loops

• Where can mixing loops be used
• Different types of mixing loops
• Design
• Function
• Energy saving by using mixing loops
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Why mixing loops – Increase of hydraulic balance in large/Tertiary/district

heating or cooling systems
The source of unbalance in a system

In large systems the diffential pressure will decrease/increase depending upon

the distance from the pump, and not reflect the actual need.

Pressure
profile Dp Dp Dp Dp Dp
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Why mixing loops – Increase in the control of different part of building(s)

Systems with zone

division
Facade divided

Will adapt to
weather conditions:
Sun
Wind
Floor divided

Will adapt to use of

the building:
Holidays
Load of the floor
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Why mixing loops – Increase in the control of different part of building(s)

Systems with zone

division
Building divided

There could be seperate tertiary pumps for diferent buildings, which are catered by a
common chilled water plant. Then each building will have its own mixing loop
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Why mixing loops – Correct differential temperature at the chiller return

High differential temperature means lower flow.

Formula for calculating the kW x 0,86 = m3/h

flow in a cooling system Dt

Dt Dt Dt Dt Dt
5oC 5oC 5oC 5oC 5oC

Dt
5oC

In particulary District/large cooling systems a correct differetial temperature reduces the

operation cost.
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Why mixing loops – parameters which influence in the indoor temperature

External parameter which have Internal parameter which have

influence on the cooling/heat demand influence on the cooling/heat demand

Other rooms

Sun radiation
Light Light

Electrical People
Wind equipment

Other rooms
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Where can mixing loops be used

All circulating systems where there is a demand for

improving the balance and controlling the temperatures
•Heating systems
•Radiator systems
•Air handling units
•Floor heating
•Heating
•District systems
Heating/Cooling
•Building connection
•Cooling systems
•Fan coils
•Air handling units
•Cooling ceilings
For Primary-Secondary as well as Secondary-Tertiary
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Mixing loops overview

System 1 System 2 System 3 System 4 System 5

tO tO tO tO tO

Load Load Load Load Load

Tertiary side tf tf tf tf

tr tr tr
tr
M M M

ts M M
Secondary side

Hydraulic NO YES NO YES YES

separation
Temperature
control NO YES YES YES YES
Investment
MIDIUM MIDIUM HIGH HIGH HIGH
Operation
cost LOW LOW LOW HIGH HIGH
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System 1

Tertiary side
Function
tO
Tertiary side:
Load The load will normally be an exchanger, where the
temperature out of the exchanger is the set point. The
flow is decreasing when the valve is closing. The valve can
be placed either in the flow pipe or in the return pipe. The
pressure lost in the bypass has to close to same as the
M
pressure loss in the system.

Secondary side:
Connection The flow is constant or variable, but the differential
point
temperature will change when the valve is adjusting.
Secondary side
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System 2

Tertiary side Function

tO
Tertiary side:
Load The load will normally be a heat surface or a radiator
system, where there is a demand for a variable
tf
temperature. The flow in the secondary side will normally
tr
be higher, due to a reduction in the flow temperature. The
flow can be constant or variable depending on the system.
The valve can be placed either in the flow pipe or in the
M return pipe.
Secondary side:
The flow is decreasing when the valve is closing. If an
Connection uncontrolled pump is installed on the primary side, the
point
differential pressure in the connection point will increase
Secondary side when the flow is decreasing.
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System 3

Tertiary side
Function
tO
Tertiary side:
The load will normally be a heat surface or a radiator
Load
system, where there is a demand for a variable tem-
tf perature. The flow in the secondary side will normally be
higher, due to a reduction in the flow temperature. The flow
tr can be constant or variable depending on the system. The
valve can be placed either in the flow pipe or in the return
M pipe.

Secondary side:
The flow is decreasing when the valve is closing. If an
uncontrolled pump is installed on the primary side,the
Connection differential pressure in the connection point will increase
point
when the flow is decreasing.
Secondary side
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System 4

Tertiary side Function

tO
Tertiary side:
The load will normally be a heat surface or a radiator system
Load
where where is a demand for a variable temperature.
tf The flow in the secondary side will normally be higher than in
the primary side, due to a reduction in the flow temperature.
tr
The flow can be constant or variable, depending on the
system. The valve can be placed either in theflow pipe or in
the return pipe.
M

Secondary side:
The flow is constant, but the differential temperature will
Connection change when the valve is adjusting.
point

Secondary side
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System 5

Tertiary side Function

tO
Tertiary side:
The load will normally be a heat surface or a radiator system
Load
where there is a demand for a variable temperature. The
tf flow in the secondary side will normally be higher than in the
primary side due to a reduction in the flow temperature.
tr The flow can be constant or variable depending on the
system. The valve can be placed either in the flow pipe or in
M the return pipe.

Secondary side:
The flow is constant, but the differential temperature will
Connection change when the valve is adjusting.
point

Secondary side
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Design

Secondary side Tertiary side

Out-door
temperature sensor to
Loop Flow
controller temperature sensor

Thermometer
Tf

Shut-off Strainer Circulator pump Shut-off

valve valve
Non-return
M Tr
valve

Return
Control valve temperature sensor
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Function of the Loop controller

By adding more or less chilled water to the tertiary side the Loop Controller is
adjusting the flow temperature based on outdoor, zone supply and return
temperature.

to Loop
controller

ts tf

M
tr
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Energy consumption in system with mixing loops pumps.

Conclusion:
1. Full hydraulic balance in the system:
It will also be possible to change the cooling/heating system in one of the
buildings without disturbing the balance in in the other buildings.

2. Reduced power consumption:

Experiences shown a reduction of chiller power consumption when mixing
loops are installed.

3. Reduced pump energy consumption:

Can be reduced to up to 30-40%
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Energy consumption in system with mixing loops pumps.

Conclusion:
4. Better zone control:
Mixing loop will help in achieving better individual zone control.

5. Smaller Secondary pumps:

In case of Primary-secondary-tertiary systems smaller secondary pumps are
used

6. Suitable for any application:

Can be used for Primary-secondary-Tertiary, Primary-Tertiary as well as
Primary- secondary
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