Minnesota State CARD Grant Independent Testing October 31, 2025 By Baris Karagun Energy Efficiency Potential of Nanofluids Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) FINAL Report Prepared for: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources Prepared by: Michaels Energy CARD Final Report Template, Version 31 (04/17/2021) (DO NOT REMOVE THIS UNTIL DER REVIEWS) Dakota County Air Cooled Chiller System Description The Dakota County Annex is an addition to the Dakota County Administration facility and functions as a municipal office building. A separate chilled water plant provides mechanical cooling to a variable volume air handler dedicated to the addition. The air handling unit mixes outdoor air with return air from the conditioned spaces in the building to a mixed air state. This mixed air undergoes both sensible and latent cooling as it passes across the cooling coil. The air handling unit distributes the conditioned supply air to the building spaces. The chilled water plant consists of an air-cooled chiller with a rotary screw compressor. Redundant constant speed pumps deliver chilled water to the air handler. The air handler contains a three-way valve to control chilled water input to the cooling coil. The working heat transfer fluid in the system is a mixture of 30% ethylene glycol and 70% water. Table 1 shows the specifications of the primary system components. Table 1. Air Cooled Chiller Equipment Specifications Equipment Type Qty Size Units Chiller Screw 1 100 Ton Chilled Water Pumps Centrifugal 2 7.5 HP Air Handler – Supply Fan Centrifugal 1 50 HP Air Handler – Return Fan Centrifugal 1 15 HP Figure 1 shows a diagram of the air-cooled system. Figure 1. Air-Cooled Chilled Water System Figure 2. Air Cooled Chiller Data Collection The air handler is the only end-use served by the chilled water loop. Therefore, the load on the air handler chilled water coil was utilized to determine the load on the chiller. Table 2 lists the data points collected from the facility’s digital automation system. Table 2. Air Cooled Chiller Data Points BAS Data Point Units Collection Interval (Min) Outdoor Air Dry Bulb Temperature Deg F 5 Outdoor Air Wet Bulb Temperature Deg F 60 Outdoor Air Humidity % 60 Air Handler Outdoor Air Volume CFM 5 Chiller Power kW 3 BAS Data Point Units Collection Interval (Min) Chiller Evaporator Flow Rate Gallons per Minute 3 Chilled Water Supply Temperature Deg F 3 Chilled Water Return Temperature Deg F 3 Air Handler Return Air Humidity % 5 Air Handler Return Air Volume CFM 5 Air Handler Mixed Air Temperature Deg F 5 Air Handler Supply Air Temperature Deg F 5 Air Handler Supply Volume Cubic Feet Per Minute 5 Air Handler Supply Fan Speed Percent 5 Cooling Valve Position Percent Open 5 The chiller system utilized a glycol/water mixture as the heat transfer medium in the baseline condition. The mixture contained approximately 30% glycol, providing freeze protection at 7°F outdoor air temperature. The baseline monitoring period occurred from August 12, 2020 to October 30, 2020. Data was collected from the building automation system in five-minute increments to capture system performance. To process the large amounts of data into identifiable trends, relevant data points were averaged based on outdoor air temperature bins of three degrees Fahrenheit. The baseline data collection period captured over 3,300 data points encompassing roughly 275 hours of chiller operation. Since the test period began in mid-August, the baseline monitoring period did not contain operating data where outdoor air temperatures exceeded 87°F. The fluid in the chiller system was replaced on April 13, 2021 with a mixture of 45% HYDROMX and 55% city water. The total loop volume of the chiller system was found to be 720 gallons. The air-cooled chiller system was monitored from May 3, 2021 to October 14, 2021. The nanofluid data collection period captured over 12,600 data points over the entire cooling season, equating to roughly 1,050 hours of chiller operation. Nanofluid kWh 39.094 Annual kWh Savings -6,927 Percent Savings -22% Annual Carbon Savings (lbs) -3,380 Simple Payback (Years) N/A Since the loading of the chiller system was abnormally low due to COVID-19 impacts, the savings were also calculated using the equivalent full load hours (EFLH) methodology for chillers presented in the Minnesota Technical Reference Manual, version 2.2. Error! Reference source not found. shows these results. The chiller’s integrated part-load values (IPLVs) using water and the nanofluid were estimated using the average kW/ton across the monitoring periods. This average efficiency was determined by dividing the kWh consumed by the total ton-hours of cooling produced by the chiller. The building served by the system is a low-rise structure in Zone 3; therefore, the calculation used 446 EFLH. This methodology shows that a typical cooling season would likely have four times the cooling load observed during the late summer of 2021, as the chiller only ran 107 EFLH during this monitoring System 2 – Dakota County Air-Cooled Chiller The operation of the Dakota County air cooled chiller is summarized by outdoor air temperature bins to present the data in an easy-to-consume format. The tables contain the number of data points per bin, average outdoor air dry bulb temperature, average chiller tons delivered, average power consumption of the chiller, chiller kW/ton, average air handler supply air volume, average outdoor air volume, average air handler supply temperature, mixed air temperature, and zone temperature. Baseline Results Table 3 displays the calculated kW/ton of the chiller system in the baseline condition, as well as other select system attributes broken down by outdoor air (dry bulb) temperature bin. Table 3. Baseline Results (Glycol-Water) Temp Range Observations Avg OAT (°F) Avg Tons Avg Chiller kW Avg kW/ton Avg Supply CFM Avg OA CFM Avg SAT Avg MAT Avg Zone Temp (°F) 87-84 104 85.4 14.3 19.9 1.38 10,947 2,005 62.2 75.8 73.6 84-81 209 81.9 11.0 15.9 1.45 9,393 1,873 63.4 75.0 73.5 81-78 625 79.4 9.2 13.4 1.46 8,650 1,830 64.0 74.6 73.4 78-75 354 76.6 9.2 12.9 1.41 9,102 2,611 63.9 74.4 73.3 75-72 433 73.3 9.1 12.3 1.35 9,146 3,273 63.9 74.3 73.3 72-69 612 70.5 7.9 10.6 1.35 8,862 5,632 64.2 73.5 73.2 69-66 604 67.4 8.2 10.4 1.27 8,867 8,024 63.5 72.6 73.4 66-63 386 64.6 6.2 9.1 1.47 8,208 8,005 64.0 71.4 73.3 63-60 188 61.8 6.2 8.2 1.33 8,528 5,998 64.1 71.4 73.1 60-57 115 58.6 11.1 14.4 1.30 9,413 2,381 62.1 74.7 74.0 Nanofluid Results Table 4 displays the calculated kW/ton of the chiller system in the nanofluid condition as well as other select system attributes broken down by outdoor air (dry bulb) temperature bin. Table 4. Nanofluid Results Temp Range Observations Avg OAT (°F) Avg Tons Avg Chiller kW Avg kW/ton Avg Supply CFM Avg OA CFM Avg SAT Avg MAT Avg Zone Temp (°F) 99-96 93 96.6 12.2 16.7 1.37 9,357 1,702 61.9 74.7 73.3 96-93 342 94.3 10.8 14.9 1.39 8,884 1,589 62.1 74.6 73.3 93-90 450 91.3 11.7 16.0 1.37 9,444 1,702 61.9 74.6 73.3 90-87 564 88.5 10.9 15.0 1.38 9,135 1,649 62.1 74.5 73.3 87-84 1022 85.3 11.2 15.2 1.36 9,123 1,632 62.1 74.6 73.2 Temp Range Observations Avg OAT (°F) Avg Tons Avg Chiller kW Avg kW/ton Avg Supply CFM Avg OA CFM Avg SAT Avg MAT Avg Zone Temp (°F) 84-81 1238 82.6 10.3 13.6 1.32 8,380 1,866 62.4 74.5 73.3 81-78 1357 79.4 10.1 13.1 1.30 8,460 2,284 62.3 74.4 73.3 78-75 1680 76.4 10.5 13.5 1.28 8,998 2,170 62.0 74.2 73.2 75-72 1759 73.5 11.1 13.1 1.18 9,352 2,627 62.1 74.0 73.1 72-69 1973 70.5 10.1 12.0 1.19 8,942 3,237 62.5 73.7 73.2 69-66 1182 67.7 10.5 12.1 1.16 9,331 4,807 61.1 72.5 72.8 66-63 952 64.4 10.3 11.6 1.12 8,302 2,944 60.3 72.8 72.5 63-60 666 61.9 11.0 12.6 1.15 9,264 3,051 59.8 72.9 72.2 60-57 228 59.0 7.6 8.2 1.07 6,097 2,300 57.5 72.1 71.8 The metered operating efficiency of the chiller improved by an average of 0.16 kW/ton. The efficiency gains in each temperature bin vary. Annual Savings Estimates The nanofluid installation resulted in energy savings or a more efficient (lower) kW/ton. While linear trends show more considerable efficiency gains at lower outdoor air temperatures and loadings, the efficiency increased at all temperature ranges after the nanofluid installation. A graphical comparison of the chiller efficiency across a range of outdoor air temperatures is shown in Figure 3. Figure 3. Chiller Efficiency vs Outdoor Air Temperature We created an efficiency regression curve plotting the efficiency impacts of the nanofluid installation against the outdoor air temperature in order to determine the efficiency gain of the system across the range of operating conditions. (This curve is shown later in the discussion section.) The baseline energy consumption of the system was normalized to the operating conditions observed during the nanofluid operation by applying the chiller efficiency gain regression curve to the metered data observed in summer 2021 for the nanofluid monitoring period. This approach yielded a savings of approximately 9% across the summer or 1,278 kWh, as shown in Table 5. Table 5. Air-Cooled Chiller Savings in 2021 Data Point Result Nanofluid kWh 13,682 Glycol kWh 14,960 kWh Savings 1,278 Percent Savings 9% Annual Carbon Savings (lbs) 624 Simple Payback (Years) 189 Since the loading of the chiller system was abnormally low due to COVID-19 impacts, the savings were also calculated using the equivalent full load hours (EFLH) methodology for chillers presented in the Minnesota Technical Reference Manual, version 2.2. Table 6. TRM Water-Cooled Chiller Savings Parameter Value Nanofluid IPLV 1.22 kW/ton Glycol IPLV 1.33 kW/ton Equivalent Full Load Hours (EFLH) 446 hours Chiller Capacity 100 Tons Minnesota TRM Equivalent Annual Savings 5,077 kWh Annual Carbon Savings 2,478 lbs Simple Payback 47.5 years The chiller system’s integrated part-load value (IPLV) using glycol and the nanofluid were estimated using the average kW/ton across the operating seasons, determined by dividing the average kWh consumed by the total ton-hours of cooling produced. The facility is a low-rise office building in zone 3; therefore, the calculation used 446 EFLH. As shown in Table 6, the TRM methodology shows that a typical cooling season would likely have four times the cooling load observed during the summer of 2021, as the chiller only ran 112 EFLH.
Hydromx Wins the 2020 Carbon Neutrality Innovation Challenge July 14, 2025 By Cenk Goker Leave a Comment On September 22nd, 2020, The New York City Department of Buildings held the first NYC Carbon Neutrality Innovation Challenge during Climate Week 2020. Hydromx® was one of four winners featured during the digital conference and is favored in the 2020 NYC Building Code. Climate Week 2020 Climate Week NYC has taken place annually since its inception in 2009. In response to the global pandemic, the 2020 Climate Week NYC went digital. The week-long festivities foster conversation by leaders in business and government across the world on climate change. Additionally, it features innovations in various industries to slow the progression of climate change. Over 350 individual events, seminars, and discussions took place worldwide, making the most recent Climate Week the largest yet. Ten areas of focus were highlighted during the celebration: Transport and Infrastructure Clean Energy Transition Finance, Jobs, and Investment Industry and Built Environment Food and Land Use US and International Policy Nature and Science Youth, Public Mobilization, and Justice Climate Impacts and Adaptation Sustainable Travel and Tourism “Climate change is an existential threat to a coastal city like ours, and innovative technologies will help us meet this challenge head-on,” said Buildings Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca. “As part of our first-ever digital conference, I am thrilled to congratulate the winners of our sustainability innovation challenge. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our buildings is critical to fighting climate change and protecting New Yorkers, and we are proud of our continued partnership with the industry to confront this critical issue.” The Carbon Neutrality Innovation Challenge Submissions opened on Earth Day 2020, and the winners were announced on September 22nd. The NYC Green New Deal Law drove the competition. The law set forth the ambitious deadline of cutting carbon emissions levels from 2005 by 40% before 2030 and 80% before 2050. The NYC Department of Building’s Innovation Committee and a selected panel of experts in private sector design, technology, and construction were the judges for this competition. Judges considered submissions on their impact, feasibility, and innovation in buildings over 25,000 sq ft. Many submissions were considered but, only four winners were awarded. Consideration for addition to the 2020 NYC building code was the prize for The Carbon Neutrality Innovation Challenge’s four winners, as well as the honor of being showcased at Climate Week 2020. This is a considerable benefit, as an estimated 2% or 50,000 buildings in the city will be required to slash emissions in the coming years. Hydromx’s Winning Solution Hydromx is a cutting-edge heat transfer nanofluid that uses Nano-Thermo™ technology. The nanofluid is ideal in closed-loop heating and cooling applications. Its ability to improve efficiency, save energy costs, reduce maintenance expenses, and prolong equipment life translates to a minimized carbon footprint. Hydromx significantly increases the heat-transfer rate, therefore improving the efficiency of the system’s energy transfer. Moreover, the nanofluid prevents calcification, algae, and corrosion in systems. On average, Hydromx increases efficiency 20% to 35%. Hydromx goes above and beyond the Carbon Neutrality Innovation Challenge parameters. Nanotechnology Provides 4 Types of Protection Hydromx’s nanotechnology offers superior protection against corrosion, scaling, freezing, as well as bacteria. These four factors can cause major headaches in other systems but are no problem for Hydromx. Corrosion Protection One of the most common problems in hydronic systems is corrosion. This problem can eviscerate ball & check valves, zone valves, tanks, etc. Typical water-based mixtures add corrosion prevention agents, which decreases the thermal connectivity. However, Hydromx prevents corrosion without decreasing the thermal connectivity and is verified by BuildCert and the ASTM-D 1386 Standard. Scaling Protection Scaling presents a challenge by blocking up the entire system, leading to valve and pump failures. Hard water makes systems especially vulnerable to scaling. Hydromx provides total protection against scaling while maintaining the optimal efficiency of your system. Freezing & Burst Protection Most systems have a glycol solution to avoid freezing. Though glycol is effective in most temperatures, it severely reduces the thermal connectivity of fluid within a system. On the contrary, Hydromx continues to preserve safe temperatures and uphold thermal connectivity. Bacteria Protection Bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Legionella, are a danger for traditional fluid mixtures in hydronic systems. Not only do they present a problem for maintenance technicians, but bacteria can also diminish efficiency. Moreover, Hydromx’s unique formula eradicates bacteria without reducing the system’s efficiency. Green Heat Transfer Fluid It is imperative to lessen our current CO2 emissions to protect life on Earth. CO2 emissions are the largest cause of climate change to date. Second is the globally increasing energy demand. Hydromx’s nanofluid decreases CO2 emissions by 26.6%, compared to water. Additionally, it maintains LCA and EPD (EPD10329) certifications through approval organizations and independent testing. Hydromx contributes to the newest LEED standards (v.4) in three categories as a sustainable and green solution: 20% to 35% savings on HVAC bills and doesn’t impose disruption to building occupants Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction Optimizing Energy Performance The heat transfer fluid contributes an estimated 10 LEED points when used within new constrictions. According to the UN’s 2011 data regarding the environment, the average annual CO2 emissions have reached 28.8 Trillion tons world-wide. IEA’s (International Energy Agency) data suggests a savings of more than 50 Billion USD in annual energy expenses if 5% of the world uses Hydromx. Moreover, this increase in Hydromx use could eliminate 86.5 tons of CO2 in the atmosphere, or the CO2 absorption of 231 million trees. That small percent would have a considerable difference in the future of our environment. Hydromx’s Green Applications Hydromx has proven itself in many applications to date. New York City’s iconic landmark, the Empire State Building, has added Hydromx into its radiators and produces positive results by way of energy savings. The Residential Care Home in the UK saw a savings of 21% for energy expenses and a return on investment in less than two years, with the addition of Hydromx into the facility’s system. Hydromx is an excellent choice for many applications. It not only saves money but also leaves a smaller carbon footprint than traditional formulas. An Excellent Choice for Green Initiatives Hydromx’s state-of-the-art formula is an excellent option for any green initiative building project. The Carbon Neutrality Innovation Challenge was a prime opportunity to showcase the nanofluid’s efficiency. Hydromx is carefully formulated for the highest efficiency on the market and the ability to prolong your equipment’s life. To learn more about adding Hydromx to your system, click here, or contact us at info@hydromx.com.
Diocese turns to Hydromx to improve eco performance of listed heritage site January 20, 2025 By Baris Karagun
Diocese’s ‘bold and innovative’ eco approach for heritage site net zero project January 12, 2025 By Baris Karagun Improving the energy performance of The Chelmsford Diocesan House of Retreat, located within a conservation area in the historic Essex village of Pleshey, had the potential to challenge church leaders guiding the diocesan estate to carbon neutrality in line with the Church Of England’s 2030 objective. For not only is the retreat within a historically sensitive location, its buildings include a listed Georgian farmhouse, an Edwardian Arts and Crafts property and a chapel, collectively creating a real challenge in terms of energy efficiency upgrades and precluding many mainstream energy efficiency approaches, as Diocese spokesman Peter Palmer explained: “Many of the buildings within our estate are more modern than those in Pleshey, making it possible to incorporate air source heat pumps and solar panels etc as part of our net zero agenda. But this approach couldn’t be considered for The House of Retreat due to the restrictions of a listed heritage site and the complexities of upgrading heating and plumbing systems within older buildings given their age and lay-out,” said Peter. The diocese had previously installed revolutionary heat transfer fluid Hydromx at more than 35 of its voluntary aided primary schools and considered it the right approach for Pleshey due to its relative simplicity to install and no requirement for major plant or system changes. Energy and carbon savings of between 20% and 35% can be expected from Hydromx. “Hydromx provided an outstanding solution, allowing us to upgrade all buildings at The House of Retreat with minimal impact on the day-to-day running of the operation and deliver an almost instant impact on fuel bills and carbon emissions,” added Peter. This feedback was echoed by retreat warden the Rev Graham Dowling, who confirmed reduced fuel consumption and ‘warmer rooms overall’. The Rt Revd Roger Morris, Bishop of Colchester and chair of the Diocesan Net Zero Carbon Management Board, believes the positive impact of Hydromx goes beyond reducing The House of Retreat’s fuel bill, as he explained: “Responding to the climate crisis is an essential part of our mission to safeguard God’s creation and achieve a more just world for everyone. We can already see the devastating impact of climate change across the world, often hitting hardest the poorest countries and poorest people of the world. “For The House of Retreat, this new venture witnesses to our communities across Essex and East London that the Diocese of Chelmsford is fully committed to addressing climate change — in faith, practice and mission. We have also been bold and innovative in the use of Hydromx. It has already proven hugely effective across our school estate and the early signs are that it is already a game-changer for The House of Retreat – reducing running costs, ensuring the building is warm and hospitable and significantly cutting carbon emissions.” In total some 635 litres of Hydromx was installed at the retreat by specialist installer Lyndon Ingram-Palmer, of Highcliff Mechanical Services in Southend, Essex, working with UK distributor HMX UK. He said: “Each of the properties had different challenges but the process of adding Hydromx remained the same and relatively simple – drain the system, check it’s clean and in good condition and, in the case of the main building, replace some TRVs and add valves to ensure system isolation if a drain down is required.” ends About Hydromx Hydromx is a unique cutting-edge heat transfer solution that improves the thermal conductivity of fluid within water-based heating and cooling systems. It is in use worldwide (New York’s Empire State Building has been benefitting from it for years) and compatible with most HVAC systems. It is inert, guaranteed for 20 years and performs the tasks of an inhibitor, protecting against calcification, corrosion, freezing, bacteria and algae growth. Depending upon the application and system characteristics, building operators and owners can expect carbon and cost savings of between 20-35%.
Calls for London Mayor to extend Greener Schools initiative to fresh tech December 16, 2024 By Baris Karagun Scientists behind a cutting-edge technology already delivering gas bill savings of up to 35% for a trio of schools in Greater London are calling on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to include the approach in his just-announced Greener Schools programme. The schools in Wansted, Romford and Dagenham have also reduced carbon emissions by up to 9.7 tonnes per year after having their heating systems upgraded with the hi-tech nanofluid, accelerating the speed with which rooms and spaces in the buildings heat up. Berkin Arikan, CEO of Hydromx which manufactures the nanofluid – also installed in the Empire State Building, New York – believes it has massive potential to reduce school energy bills and cut their carbon emissions – both key pillars of Khan’s Greener Schools initiative – without the need for capital investment or major disruption to school operations. He said: “We applaud Mayor Khan’s drive to address fuel bills and carbon emissions and in doing so keep children warm and free-up school budgets for much-needed resources. And, while we support the installation of solar and heat pump technology, our work with The Diocese of Chelmsford installing Hydromx into more than 35 schools across Essex – including Wansted, Romford and Dagenham – has highlighted how a really straight-forward, quick and cost-effective approach can deliver huge energy and carbon savings.” Installation simply requires draining the heating system and re-filling with a mix of water and the nanofluid. It can take as little as a morning, results are instant and ROI is typically around two years. The approach is suitable for buildings of all types and ages, including Victorian and Listed buildings. Chelmsford Diocese, which encompasses Church of England schools across Essex and East London, is the first in the country to include Hydromx in its carbon reduction strategy, starting with a three-school pilot project, as diocese spokesman Peter Palmer explained: “Specifying this system into our school estate is a key component of the diocese’s Net Zero objective. The pilot project delivered significant energy, cost and carbon savings so we rolled out Hydromx across the remainder of our applicable voluntary aided schools.” Feedback from schools has included pupils complaining about being too hot immediately after installation, previously hard-to-heat rooms being ‘toasty warm’ and savings being made equating to annual book budgets. One headmaster said: “The very first day after installation everyone said the school felt hot. The radiators were roasting rather than being luke warm. It really has made a big difference.” Via: https://hmxuk.com/appeal-for-london-mayor-to-embrace-nanotech-for-greener-schools-initiative/
DIOCESE SCHOOLS BENEFIT FROM REDUCED HEATING BILLS May 17, 2024 By Baris Karagun After staffing costs, energy bills are often the next biggest spend for schools. And with the demise of the Government’s Energy Bills Discount Scheme – with no replacement on the horizon – education budgets look set to be further squeezed, says Dominic Wish, HMX UK’s Technical Director. Implementing energy-saving measures in primaries and secondaries is an ongoing focus for local authorities, academies and other organisations driving to hit net-zero targets and reduce energy bills in educational establishments. Improved lighting, renewables, energy audits and upgrading heating systems are often starting points. An Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy can also be a powerful tool not just to manage energy costs but also enhance a school’s reputation and deliver learning opportunities for pupils. So with these established routes to better manage energy bills is there demand for another approach? We think so, as do our clients, who are benefitting from a relatively straightforward approach that has already delivered energy and cost savings of 35% and more for a group of schools in Essex. Comfort levels The Diocese of Chelmsford became the first in the country to adopt cutting-edge technology for the voluntary-aided primary schools in its portfolio. The move saw it add a product called Hydromx to central heating systems in more than 30 schools with almost immediate effect, with heads reporting that hard-to-heat offices and other areas of their schools were far more comfortable heat wise. One said: “It’s such a great product. Everybody I have spoken to can’t quite believe how good it is.” But while comfort levels are important, the real impact is in fuel bills and carbon emissions, with one school making a saving on its energy bill equivalent to its yearly book budget. Prior to introducing Hydromx across its school portfolio, the Diocese – which is working towards a net-zero commitment – conducted a pilot project to assess the product’s performance, installing it in five schools. Of these, three recorded before and after energy usage statistics reveal gas consumption savings of between 37.5 and 47% from November 2022 to January 2023 when compared to the previous year (with an HDD – Heating Degree Day – calculation applied). ROI ranges from 1.42 years to 2.18 years. It should be noted that the schools fitted TRVs to manage the heating and ensure optimum savings. There has also been a significant focus on energy saving within each, leading to these outstanding results. Reduction in carbon emissions of around seven tonnes per site per year are predicted. Guaranteed Hydromx is a cutting-edge heat transfer solution that improves the thermal conductivity of fluid within hydronic (water-based) heating and cooling systems. It is in use worldwide (New York’s Empire State Building has been benefitting from it for years, reducing chiller run time and cutting plant electricity bills by up to 50% in some cases) and is compatible with most HVAC systems. No major plant or system changes are required. The additive is non-invasive, inert, recyclable and guaranteed for 20 years. It performs the tasks of an inhibitor, protecting against calcification, corrosion, freezing, bacteria and algae growth. Depending upon the application and system characteristics, building operators and owners can expect carbon and cost savings of between 20 to 35%. Installation There are two key elements of installation – assessing system volume and ensuring it is clean (which usually means flushing to remove sludge and inhibitors. This process can also help ascertain volume if unknown). The heating/cooling system should be in good condition. Remedial work, if required (for example, the fitting of thermostat radiator valves), should be carried out prior to installation to ensure increased heat output can be managed. Boiler sequencing/thermostats will also need adjusting accordingly. The Chelmsford Diocese school installations have all been carried out after school hours, over weekends or during holidays, with most taking less than a day. Once the heating system is confirmed as suitable (flushed, no leaks, TRVs fitted, remedial work completed etc.), it is drained down and refilled with a mix of water and Hydromx. How it works Economic and practical reasons have driven the use of water in central heating systems – it’s low cost and efficient. However, the development of Hydromx offers a new and far more efficient approach. At the heart of the product is nano-technology; it’s an accepted scientific principle that material properties change as size approaches the atomic scale, with the surface-area-to-volume ratio increasing. A cup of nanoparticles offers roughly the same surface area as almost two football pitches, and increased surface area equals increased heat transfer capability. Nanoparticles are already an established technology delivering benefits in a variety of fields, from paints to glass, aerospace to medicine and even school uniform. Their use isn’t new within heating applications either but scientific advancements mean these tiny particles are now delivering substantial environmental and cost-saving advantages. Sound scientific principles support their use and worldwide installations demonstrate results. The approach is simple – replace water in hydronic systems with a fluid that has superior heat transfer properties. Not only does the heating or cooling system reach the desired temperature more quickly (therefore, using less energy), but cycling is also reduced, offering the potential of increased equipment lifespan and lower maintenance requirements. It’s a win-win situation and can even negate the need for new plant if increased heating/cooling is required. In many ways, it’s an obvious solution to make commercial HVAC systems work more efficiently. But applying fluid technology to this area has been largely overlooked until now and it’s challenging clients, specifiers and contractors to reconsider a fundamental element of HVAC systems. Via: https://psbjmagazine.com/features/education/13253/diocese-schools-benefit-from-reduced-heating-bills/
