From the very start over 90 years ago, Mulcahy has been committed to hiring the best people and investing in the professional development and growth of our team. When you have the right people, with drive, integrity, and old-fashioned good work ethic, promoting and filling positions from within is a no-brainer. Some new and some familiar faces have moved into new positions within the Mulcahy team.

Nick Davis accepted the position of Cooling Tower Sales Specialist. He joins Bob Falk, Guillermo Arias, and Joel Cleveland to promote aftermarket and new tower business to owners and contractors. His tenacity and spirit will bring great energy to the former and his existing relationships with contractors will help us reestablish our BAC business with the latter.

Matt Svihel joins Mulcahy in the Technical Sales group. Matt has an associate degree in Heating and Air Conditioning Engineering Technology from Dunwoody. He spent the last three years working with consulting engineers doing design work in HVAC systems. He has a strong desire to learn and grow, and a clear career trajectory.

Ray Stewart will be joining the Mulcahy warehouse team. Ray, a Savage, MN native, lives with his wife and two children in his childhood home. He’s extremely driven to learn and spends time researching things that interest him. He has a strong background as a small- and large-engine mechanic and pours himself into his work.

Sam Thotland has begun his transition to customer service after working two years in the warehouse.  This will allow Steve Dahl to focus on his move to the variable frequency drive sales team.

 

Minnesota utilities are required to give customers rebates to encourage the installation and retrofit of high-efficiency equipment. The rebates are available for a wide range of appliances and fall into two categories—prescriptive or custom.

Prescriptive rebates are primarily for a piece of equipment and given for specific performance metrics. For example, a building owner can receive a $1,250 rebate for installing a 15hp variable frequency drive. Such rebates are applied after the equipment is installed and running.

Custom rebates cover everything not covered by a utility’s prescriptive programs, such as design and installation changes that might cost more but produce energy savings. The rebate is based on the projected savings over a full calendar year of operation and is negotiated and approved prior to construction.

One of the newest prescriptive rebate programs by Xcel Energy now available now available to Minnesota customers is for clean water pumps used in commercial HVAC, domestic water, irrigation, industrial, and municipal applications. Pumps that meet the Hydraulic Institute Energy Rating (HIER) program are eligible for a rebate of up to $165/hp. Rebates vary by type of application and how much the Pump Energy Index (PEI) exceeds the Department of Energy efficiency standards. Soon, pumps will be required to have a PEI of 1.00 or lower in order to be sold in the United States. A pump with a lower PEI is more efficient. A PEI of 1.00 is like par on a golf course—lower than par is better.

The program rewards users more for the installation of a variable speed pump vs. a constant speed pump. The pump supplier should apply for the rebate online after the pump system is installed and running.

Most Bell & Gossett pumps qualify for the rebates and are already listed in the public database available for end users to reference. Many qualify for the highest rebates available.

Bell & Gossett and its parent company, Xylem, has worked extensively to improve their product efficiency and Mulcahy Company  is a proud partner. Please contact us if you have any  questions about how we can help you take advantage of this new program.

Xcel Energy recently rolled out a prescriptive rebate program for Xcel customers for clean water pumps in Minnesota and we’re proud to say we are the first distributor to get on board. The program references pumps in the Hydraulic Institute Energy Rating Database for constant to constant, constant to variable, and variable replacements as well as new pumps across two tiers and 5 pump types in the irrigation, commercial, HVAC and DHW, Industrial and Municipal markets. View a full list of specific ranges here.

We can help you determine if you qualify for this Xcel Energy rebate and guide you through the process.

Many are not aware of the full potential of an ABB VFD. Most of the time, the VFD is just a follower device—hanging on the wall waiting to be told what to do. Start. Stop. Speed up. Slow down. This is because a higher power—a building automation system (BAS)—is involved. Regardless of brand, automation systems all seem to run on the same concepts; computing input data and making decisions. But, what happens if you don’t have a BAS or it is being utilized to its limits? This provides an opportunity to use some of the potential, inherent (AKA free) control capabilities of ABB VFDs.

For example, let’s say you have a BAS and recently added a VFD to a hot water pump in a mechanical room on an end of the building being updated. Previously, the pump was on a constant velocity system. The pump motor was operated by a contactor that pulled in during a call for heat. Thus, the pump runs flat out all the time. Another update to the system was swapping old three-way valves for two-way valves on all end devices. The idea is to run this pump as slowly as you can while distributing an effective amount of hot water. To accomplish this, you install a differential pressure sensor on the end of the system piping allowing you to determine whether to speed up or slow down the pump.

What if your BAS has been installed in that portion of the building? You are short the physical control points needed for operating the drive and the differential pressure sensor, but you’re in luck! Your BAS controllers are capable of BACnet MS/TP (RS485) communications. So are ABB VFDs! With something as simple as a two-wire BACnet comm link wired back to the BAS, the BAS can utilize many different capabilities of the VFD.

Primarily, the start, stop, speed, feedback and fault functions can all be used over a communications system. Secondly, the differential pressure sensor (you thought I forgot about it, didn’t you?) can be wired to one of the VFD’s analog inputs. As long as there’s a suitable input signal, the BAS can read the value of our analog or digital inputs through the BACnet communications. The BAS can take that data, compute and decide what to do from there. During this, the ABB VFD’s control board basically became a universal expansion panel.

The VFD doesn’t need to do PID regulation to be handy. It is also possible to use the VFD’s inherent (FREE) control capabilities as a signal relay device of sorts. Imagine a rooftop unit with the supply fan being driven by an ABB ACH 580 VFD. The BAS could feed the control signals (speed, start, stop, etc.) via the BACnet interface. Multiple sensors (outside air AHU supply temperature, etc.) could be wired into the VFD with the BAS reading their values of the same BACnet system. All this data is conveyed over a simple pair of wires vs. a gang of costly, longer wires going to a junction box.

Hopefully these simple, real-world examples generate other possible applications for the standard control capabilities of an ABB ACH 580 VFD.

 

 

To safeguard from cross contamination of potable water in the event of heat exchanger failure, many states and municipalities have special system requirements. The solution is a double-walled heat exchanger constructed in order to make cross contamination impossible. For decades, Bell & Gossett (B&G) has offered such heat exchangers which perform well in a variety of facilities. Over the years, they’ve added to the sizes, types, and materials available in double-wall heat exchangers.

Since the beginning, B&G has made their double-walled heat exchangers a true double wall noting that in the event of ANY failure of a connection, wall, or joining point, cross contamination would NOT occur. Many other vendors claim to have a double-walled unit only to have one or more vulnerable points where a failure would result in contamination of potable water.

Originally, double-walled heat exchangers were constructed from a single tube fitted inside another. The inner tube was knurled with multiple grooves to provide a leak path in the event of either tube failing. The cross-hatched grooves gave this series of heat exchangers its name “Diamondback”. The U-Tube configuration units can utilize water/glycol as a heat source (Model WU) or steam (SU) and are available in sizes up to 12” diameter shells and 10-foot long tube bundles.

Responding to designers’ desire for better performance from smaller units, plate and frame heat exchangers (GPX Series) were modified to double-walled configurations. While looking different and being capable of operating at lower spreads between mediums, Bell & Gossett plate and frame heat exchangers are a true double-wall unit. These units are available in applications ranging from 1” NPT to 8” flanges.

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, is dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world. Click the logo at left to learn more.

MNCEG, Minnesota Chief Engineer’s Guild, is an association for employees of the State of Minnesota who are actively engaged in the planning, management, and maintenance of public facilities, grounds, equipment and systems. Come see us at the 2019 MNCEG Conference & Trade Show September 4-6! Click the logo at left to learn more.

According to NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, gas is the more eco-friendly option—for now—to heat and cool an energy-efficient home. Click the logo at left to read the study.

Registration is open for the 2020 AHR Expo. Learn about industry trends, best practices, and solutions from the people creating them. Register now and come build relationships that will grow your business as the “Super Bowl of HVACR” converges in Orlando.

Lochinvar and EC POWER, the top European producer of residential and commercial combined heat and power products, today announced the launch of XRGI25, one of the most cutting-edge cogeneration products to ever be released in North America.

In the two-plus years since the Department of Energy issued the Energy Conservation Standards for Pumps, the commercial pump industry has been moving toward January 2020 compliance—updating testing procedures, adding reporting methods and other practical matters.

Mechanical contractors, specifying engineers, and building owners have many options when it comes to heating and cooling buildings. Learn more about important factors to consider when selecting which system to install.

ASPE joins ASHRAE and NSF to develop standard on managing disease risk in building water systems.

 

Thank you to the 150+ who helped us celebrate our 90th anniversary at the 2019 Expo. With your help—and the help of our brave team—we raised nearly $15,000 for Xylem Watermark to provide and protect safe water resources for people and communities in need.

Great workplaces start with great people.

We’re excited to announce that—for the second year in a row—Mulcahy was named one of Minnesota’s 2019 Top 150 Workplaces by the Star Tribune. This year, a record-breaking 140,000 employees were surveyed from over 2,000 invited companies about their workplaces’ leadership, values, culture, benefits, and employee engagement.

The Mulcahy team is one of a kind. Their dedication to quality and excellence drives innovation and growth for our partners and clients. We can’t thank them enough!

The Mulcahy team is one of a kind. Their dedication to quality and excellence drives innovation and growth for our partners and clients. We can’t thank them enough!

“Mulcahy Company has been a fast paced and laughter-filled family to me for the past 4 years. I think our ability to collaborate on complex projects is a direct result of the community that has formed. Through team events, cookouts, and office banter, we form a company that enjoys working together to better serve the HVAC industry.”

—Derek Johnson | Technical Sales

Boilers and furnaces are engineered to efficiently extract the most possible energy from fuel combustion. After the energy is extracted, the waste product—flue gasses—must be exhausted outdoors. Several products and systems exist to perform this function, but how do we know which products provide the best performance and which to stay away from?

Boiler and furnace manufacturers dictate the size and length limitations of the flue pipe in their certifications. These are listed in the product’s installation manual and must be complied with completely.

For years, the gold standard material for high-efficiency appliances has been AL29-4C Stainless Steel. It carries the highest temperature rating of all the common materials and is proven in the real world. Its only drawback is a higher cost. As a short-term, cost-saving measure, some manufacturers certified their units to be vented with non-metallic (plastic) materials. The units pass laboratory tests, but the real world isn’t a controlled environment.

At present, a boiler manufacturer can list a material for use as a flue pipe even if the pipe manufacturer never intended it to be used in that way. Therefore, the pipe manufacturer holds no blame if problems arise, as they never state it’s a suitable use of their product.

PVC and CPVS pipe are an example of this. Manufacturers generally don’t list tables, charts, or limitations for their products as a hot gas transport material, but somehow boiler and furnace manufacturers are able to list it as an allowable flue vent material.

This is where independent certification becomes important. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and other independent entities provide various standards to dictate performance requirements for flue gas venting applications. For example, if a pipe manufacturer references that its product is built to UL-1738, you know it is intended to be used as a flue pipe for a Category VI boiler or furnace. Because the product is intended for use as a hot gas transport, the manufacturer will be there to help if problems arise.

Polypropylene is a certified non-metallic product. It handles temperatures upward of 110°C—much hotter gasses than PVC—and carries the UL rating to prove it was built with the intention of being used in flue vent applications.

Want to know more about boilers, furnaces, and flue venting? Mulcahy Company has some exciting educational opportunities coming up that will prepare you to make informed decisions.

 

Many options exist in the marketplace to control variable speed pumps in hydronic systems. The increased capability and price reduction of microprocessors has allowed the basic centrifugal pump to become smart.Some manufacturers have decreed, with no explanation, that the new ways are the best ways. While new methods offer some advantages, in the end they still come up short in many ways.

Control logic has always been a key element to any successful variable speed fan or pump. Many systems didn’t reduce speed in fear of not supplying enough flow to a system, thereby not achieving the primary goal of an HVAC system—comfort. Systems wasted energy to avoid the possibilityof complaints. The industry now realizes that this approach is unacceptable and doesn’t meet owner expectations or the energy code. So, how do we control hot water and chilled water pumps?

The Old Way

Differential Pressure

In this system, a differential pressure sensor is installed on the critical circuit which maintains a minimum differential pressure across that point (remember, the pump head is based upon the friction of that flow path). If the critical path is satisfied, all other paths are satisfied. This system is very simple to understand and operate. A major advantage of a sensory system is that it automatically removes the excess capacity of the pump, whether it’s due to oversizing or reduced system demand.

There are two common enhancements that can improve this efficiency of this system:

1. A multiple sensor system is used when a system’s load is so diverse that its critical path could change based on usage. For example, a school auditorium is empty while students are in classrooms, but hours later the reverse could be true. Parts of the system could be fully loaded while others remain at minimum load.
2. Resetting the differential setpoint was recently added to ASHRAE Standard 90.1. Building Automation Systems can monitor the position of all the control valves in a system and make real-time decisions to alter the differential pressure setpoint in order to get all modulating control valves to be nearly wide open. If a circuit is slightly throttled, it is under control.

The New Way

Control Curve

Although control curves can be employed with different approaches, all follow the same theory—at a certain flow the pump will be operated at a specific pump head. Some operate off a flow meter or DP sensors at the pump, some use VFDs programmed with the pump’s operating data. No matter the method, a microprocessor decides the pump speed based on system flow. The problem is that these systems don’t know where the flow is going. Close loads? Far loads? Split? In the end, a control curve system’s only feedback comes in the form of a comfort complaint which results in the system being adjusted to operate at a higher speed.

The Punch Line

We all must follow the laws of physics and one simple formula ends up determining the largest cost of ownership for a pump—energy consumption.

head * gpm

Pump Power = ______________

3,960 – (pump eff)

GPM is how much heat transfer a system needs. Head is the friction needed to move that flow through the system. Any system that minimizes those factors will draw less HP and cost less to own. Pumps with 2-3 HP can be demonstrated to save enough energy to justify the cost of the sensor.

All design choices are a series of tradeoffs. DP sensors cost a little more money and effort to install, but allow a pump to operate at the lowest HP for a given set of conditions. However, it’s not always cost effective to install them. For a low HP system or a system that is difficult to access, a control curve might be the best choice.