62/Plumbing Engineer April 2019
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large residential development of apartment build- ings on the Lower East Side of New York City is implementing a sustainability initiative. Projects range from composting and solar panels to high-effi- ciency hot water heating systems integrating Diversified Heat Transfer (DHT) solutions. Not only is the new DHT system helping maintain more consistent domestic hot water for area residents, it is also saving building owners more than 10 percent annually in Con Ed steam usage. Built between 1942 to 1947, the complex features more than 10,000 apartments in 110 buildings over 80 sprawling acres in Manhattan's East Village. With more than 30,000 residents, the complex is the largest residen- tial consumer of steam in the United States. The use of central district steam - prevalent at the time the complex was built - meant that none of the buildings was properly equipped for an onsite boiler plant. Instead, the complex was designed with a hub distribution system by which one mechanical room in a designated building would receive high-pressure steam -180 lb./in.2 gauge (psig) - and from there distribute lower-pressure steam for building heat. The system also would reduce incoming steam to 60 psig, after which the steam was piped into semi-instan- taneous water heaters or tube bundles in large inefficient storage tanks to serve at least six to seven buildings con- nected to the hub. Commitment to Sustainability Over the past five years, the residential development has been initiating green programs that have included retrofitting buildings and apartments for maximum ener- gy efficiency. The new domestic water heating system was part of that initiative. The chief engineer selected Manorville, N.Y.-based East Coast Mechanical Services Inc. for the project due to its experience and skillset. The mechanical contract- ing firm has been providing quality building heating and plumbing systems for more than two decades. In reviewing the system requirements, Robert Knief, East Coast Mechanical's facilities engineer, recognized that the DHT ST Series (SuperTherm) water heaters and a specially designed condensate cooler/water preheater would provide the performance and efficiencies the resi- dential development owners sought. "I have experience with the DHT solutions, which have proven to be highly reliable and energy-efficient," Knief said. Knief worked with Thomas Francullo, DHT vice pres- ident of sales, to design a system with 36 SuperTherm water heaters. To maximize efficiencies and create great- er benefits, they also designed 18 preheaters, advanced proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controls and communication into the building management system. High-Efficiency System Design The SuperTherm semi-instantaneous water heaters are constructed of stainless-steel pipe and other non- ferrous materials to ensure long leak-free operation.
Submitted by Diversified Heat Transfer
Case Study
East Coast Mechanical and Diversified Heat Transfer designed the apartment complex water-heating system to include 36 SuperTherm water heaters, 18 preheaters, PID controls and the ability to communicate with the building management system.
Sustainable Steam Water Heating
Manhattan apartment complex reduces operating costs with steam-fired water heaters.
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