Summary Of Test Results on The Ecoplus Pressure Reduction Tank

The following is a summary of independent tests conducted for Ecoplus Ltd. on the Pressure Reduction Tank by staff at the Institute Of Technology, Clash, Tralee. The performance characteristics evaluated were:

1. Dissolved Oxygen

2. Radiator Profiles

3. Flow Rates

4. System Efficiency

The test system used in the evaluation was typical of a domestic heating system.

Dissolved Oxygen:

The results from these tests demonstrated that the system with the PRT installed enabled oxygen content removal from the system water in a more efficient manner  than the system without the PRT installed. The rate of removal of dissolved oxygen from the water was 4 times quicker with the PRT installed than without. The oxygen content once removed from the system was not re-introduced into the system throughout the duration of the test whereby the system was cycled on and off for given periods of time and the dissolved oxygen continuously measured. During this test the oxygen content remained in the very low ppb (mg/lt) range. The effect of eliminating Oxygen from the system minimises chemical and electrolytic corrosion resulting in longer life of boilers, radiators, pumps, pipe work and ferrous components in contact with system water.  Removal of air gives the system a more uniform heating fluid. The result of this uniformity allows the system to operate to its full potential by eliminating the build up of gasses that cause air locks, poor water heating and most importantly providing the heating system with a homogeneous heat transfer medium.

Radiator Profiles:

The PRT when used in the test heating system had the effect of balancing the heat distribution more evenly throughout the radiators. This resulted in a more evenly balanced heat flow to the radiators eliminating any potential cold spots and giving a more uniform heat distribution from the radiator during the boiler on/off cycles. The net effect of this is that there is a constant source of steady heat from the radiator, which in turn heats the room, more evenly making it more comfortable. 

Flow Rates:

The PRT system enables more flexibility of system water flow control. Experiments have shown conclusively that the flow rate of the heating system is increased with the Ecoplus PRT in place. This increase in flow rate can be as much as 50% resulting in a more efficient system. These efficiencies result in a higher return temperature to the boiler and in so doing ensure lower fuel consumption. The higher flow rates allow the heating fluid to penetrate further into the system heating those radiators at the end of the circuit to their full potential thus applying heat throughout the entire home.

System Efficiency:

The efficiency of the test heating system improved considerably with the Ecoplus Pressure Reduction Tank installed. Due to the large air volume in the test facility efficiency testing was carried out at the maximum boiler thermostat setting. The heating system used with the Ecoplus in place out performed the non-Ecoplus system on both start up and constant running efficiency. During start up the Ecoplus was found to be 16.5% more efficient and that efficiency was maintained during constant running of the system over a period of time. The efficiency improvement in the constant running period was found to be 13 %. It is highly probable that savings in excess of 25% would result over longer periods of time using smaller air volumes and a higher frequency of cold starts as in normal domestic situations.