irculators
6.1 Introduction light commercial systems use the inline of the curves is where the head sup-
configuration.The end suction configu- plied by the circulator exactly equals
he circulator is the heart of a ration is more common in larger floor- the head removed by fluid friction. It’s
10
10
charge port, its pressure having been Because the density of a glycol solu-
88
added
raised, but its flow rate unchanged. tion is slightly higher than that of pure
When the inlet and discharge ports water, the pressure increase across the 66
Head
are aligned along a common centerline, circulator would be slightly higher for 44
head
the circulator is called an “inline circu- the glycol solution than for pure water. 22
lator.” Some circulators that have their To find the flow rate a circulator will
00
inlet port parallel to the impeller shaft produce in a specific pipe system, the 0
0 2
2 4
4 6
6 88 10
10 12
12 14
14 16
16 18
18
and are called “end suction circulators.” system curve is overlaid on (drawn flow
Flowrate
ratethrough
throughcirculator
circulator (gpm)
Most circulators used in residential and over) the pump curve.The intersection (gpm)
16 PM Hydronics Toolbox
Figure 6.3 intersection of this line performance. Cavitation simply must be
and the curve is the oper- avoided in all hydronic systems.
35 ating point of the circula- Guidelines for avoiding cavitation:
head)
(feetofofhead)
tor. • Don’t allow the system to operate
30 system
system curve 4. Finally, draw a line with abnormally low pressure upstream
straight down from the of the circulator. At any given tempera-
25
curve operating point and read ture, the lower the pressure, the closer
removed(feet
20
point point if kept within the normal 10 to 20 psi
6.4 Circulator efficiency (boiler pressure) operating range.
15 Slightly higher pressures are fine as long
addedor
10 pump
pump which a circulator con- open.
curve
curve verts the electrical ener- • Mount the circulator so it pumps
5 gy supplied to its motor away from the expansion tank connec-
head
air separator
air sep arator device(s)
device(s)causing pressure
causing dropdrop
p ressure nearnear
circulator inletinlet
circulator
min.
min. 10 ppipe diametersstraight
ip e diameters straightp ip
pipe
e to to reduce
reduce turbturbulence
ulence turbulence enters
turb ulence circulator
enters circulator
devices
devicescausing
causing ppressure drop on
ressure drop ondischarge
discharge circulator
(NOT nearinlet)
inlet) of
of circulator
circulator circulator pumps
p ump stowards
toward expansion
exp ansiontank
tank
(not near
PM Hydronics Toolbox 17