Butterfly valve actuator retrofit

The chilled water plant for the Hatfield-Dowlin sports complex features two 500-ton chillers and two cooling towers that provide chilled water to ten air handling units that serve the approx. 13,192 square metre [142,000 square foot] facility. Depending on outside air temperature and cooling demand, the plant is capable of operating in different modes.

When outside air temperature is at or below 17.2°C [63°F], the complex utilises a free cooling loop. In this mode, cooling is achieved through use of a waterside economizer in conjunction with cooling towers. When free cooling is not sufficient to meet demand, one or both of the chillers can be brought online. Switching between modes is achieved through the opening and closing of butterfly valves.

Belimo’s solution for the Hatfield-Dowlin complex involved retrofitting six butterfly valves (two DN 150 [6”] valves and four DN 200 [8”] valves) with state-of-the art PR series actuators to improve reliability and reduce energy consumption.

Customer benefits

• Reliable operation through intelligent self-adjusting valve design enables fast and efficient switching between building modes to correlate cooling with outdoor air temperature and building occupancy
• Easy installation due to lower overall height and reduced weight of the actuator
• Quick programming adjustments to running time and provides fast diagnostics with Near Field Communication (NFC) actuator with a smartphone
• 80% energy saving with patented brushless DC motor technology reduces transformer and wiring costs