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Eliminating Mechanical Restrictions for Immediate Energy Savings

In Part 1 of Optimizing HVAC and Pumping Systems, B&K’s Cliff Jones and Ethan Duvall address a costly reality inside many legacy facilities: flow is still controlled by restriction. Throttling valves, outlet dampers, and inlet guide vanes may regulate output, but they force motors to run at full speed while dissipating excess energy as heat, pressure, and vibration

The white paper outlines how centrifugal pumps and fans operating under mechanical restriction waste significant brake horsepower, even at reduced flow. By contrast, when speed is reduced using an ABB Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), power consumption drops by the cube of the speed reduction, unlocking dramatic efficiency gains. The comparison is clear: 50% flow via throttling may still consume ~85% power, while a VFD-controlled system may consume closer to 12.5%.

Cliff and Ethan also provide a practical pre-installation checklist to ensure a successful transition—from verifying inverter-duty motor insulation to bearing protection, harmonic mitigation, and eliminating mechanical choke points. The message is simple: replacing restriction with true variable speed control is not just an upgrade—it’s a measurable operational advantage.

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