EAST FREETOWN, MA -- The new Phoenix® Evolution from Heat Transfer Products (HTP) melds hydronic space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) with complete system control in a single, compact, 96%-efficient package. "One Phoenix Evolution unit effectively replaces a gas-fired water heater, a 135,000 BTU/hour boiler and a buffer tank in a space the size of your average residential water heater," explains HTP vice president-sales and marketing Todd Romig.
This "combined hydronic appliance" consists of three major components:
1. a hot-water storage tank, available in one of three gallon sizes: 55, 80 or 119;
2. an energy-saving modulating burner assembly attached to the outside bottom of the tank; and
3. a space-heating module also attached to the tank (at the top) and containing a high-output heat exchanger and a variable speed pump. This pump is regulated by a rapid-response system controller, called "Total System Control," that modulates water flows from the storage tank and controls output temperatures more precisely to save energy.
"Our objective," says Romig, "was to develop the next generation in modulating-condensing technology: a hydronic heating appliance that would save not only energy through superior performance, but also installation time and physical space, which translates into even greater benefits for both the end user and the contractor-installer."
• Saves on installation: With the Phoenix Evolution, the heating contractor must make only five connections: at the supply and return for the space heating, at the inlet and outlet for the DHW, and at the cold-water feed for makeup water. The installer need not bother with a primary/secondary loop, near-boiler piping, boiler and indirect electrical connections or isolation valves. "Phoenix Evolution units are entirely pre-plumbed and wired to ease the contractor's installation task on the job site," explains HTP chief executive officer Dave Davis.
• Saves on space: The smallest Phoenix Evolution unit, with a 55-gallon storage tank, measures 34 inches x 53 inches. The 80-gallon model carries the same diameter but is 72 inches tall, while the 119-gallon model measures a still relatively compact 37 inches x 74 inches. This small footprint allows the Phoenix Evolution to squeeze into tight spaces. Its lightweight construction, including a rustproof, dent-resistant plastic jacket, makes it easy to maneuver into those confined areas.
• Saves on energy through superior performance: The high-grade, gas-fired, burner features all-stainless steel construction and a spark ignition system. Located on the front exterior beneath a removable black plastic cover, this fully modulating, ultra-low-NOx burner is load-matching. That means, instead of firing to the maximum like an energy-wasting conventional burner, the burner gears its firing level to current demand, reducing energy consumption.
A three-to-one turndown ratio helps the system adjust to more moderate ambient temperatures, especially in the early spring or late fall, when the demand for heat is less. Working with lower outputs saves energy and avoids the problem of short cycling that can undermine performance and longevity.
The high-output, brazed-plate heat exchanger in the space-heating module delivers 135,000 BTU per hour, with built-in system isolation for low-temperature hydronic baseboard, radiant heating and hydro-air applications. Warm water is drawn from the top of the Phoenix Evolution storage tank through this heat exchanger and then returned to the bottom of the tank for reheating.
The built-in system controller closely monitors both the DHW and the space-heating systems, modulating the pump speed and the burner system to provide the desired water temperatures for each. "Domestic usage always gets the preference," explains Davis. "As a result, if the temperature of the DHW supply drops below the set point, the system will automatically shut down the pump that supplies warm water to the space heating system until the DHW temperature can be restored."
For more information about these products, visit Heat Transfer at www.htproducts.com |
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