Chronicles Home > The University of Toledo: 241 Innova-Mass® When Rugged Reliability Matters. District Energy Management by Innova-Mass. Application Product Mass Flow Solution Business Impact …has replaced their old, inaccurate condensate method of estimating steam flow, giving them repeatable distributed steam measurements. Innova-Mass accurately measures every unit of steam usage on campus, shows where there is an increase in steam consumption, and proves that energy saving changes are working to save the university money on energy costs. |
Harvey Vershum, Energy Manager at the University of Toledo, Frequently Replaces Rotors on Turbine Meters
For the University of Toledo, rugged reliability matters. Harvey Vershum, Facilities Energy Manager at the University of Toledo, has not always had such rugged and reliable methods of measuring steam for his campus. Traditionally, many campuses-universities, hospitals, and corporations-have estimated steam flow by measuring condensate or used turbine meters to measure the total output of steam generated and every unit of steam distributed to each building. In this era of rising energy costs, it is critical to have accurate steam usage numbers so that energy managers can control campus energy costs.
Harvey Vershum was no exception. However, like many facilities managers, he began to realize that using the condensate method may not be very accurate and the rotors on the turbine meters would break and had to be replaced every year—a costly and time-consuming process. In the 1980s, Vershum contacted Tom Tumlin, a Sierra representative and now president of Portage Controls in Medina, OH, to replace his rotors at $500 a pop.
The Innova-Mass Has Captured Over 80% of the District Energy Market
Over the years, Tumlin would prompt Vershum, “take the turbine meters out and replace them with Sierra.”
With its capability of measuring five parameters with one process connection and calculating true mass flow directly, without separate temperature and pressure sensors, Tumlin knew that Innova-Mass would not only be easier for Vershum to operate but decrease his installation costs and overall cost-of-ownership. Known as the “steam meter” for the industry, Innova-Mass has captured over 80% of the District Energy market worldwide, and as a member of IDEA, Sierra has been a leading contributor to improving district energy technology. Tumlin’s persistence and market knowledge paid off.
Vershum Has Less Maintenance and No Moving Parts with Innova-Mass
In 2003, Vershum finally decided to give Sierra a try. He replaced one of his insertion turbine meters and installed his first in-line Innova-Mass meter . He was so pleased with its “accuracy and reduced maintenance” that in 2004 he replaced even more of his meters with Sierra. With its easy installation, no moving parts, and greater configuration flexibility, Vershum was sold on Sierra’s Innova-Mass. He has never looked back.
In 2005, the Medical College at Toledo merged with the University of Toledo, and Harvey Vershum became the Director of Energy Management for both campuses. And again, in 2007 he chose Sierra to outfit 27 buildings on the campus with Innova- Mass, installing 7 insertion meters and 3 in-line meters for distributed metering at the University of Toledo. Tom Tumlin readily partnered with Vershum during this installation process. He drove to the University of Toledo, toured the entire campus, looking at 12 inch pipes, 4 inch pipes, elbows, and straight lines, planning the best place to install the meters.
Tumlin remembers “going from building to building, running around hot basements, sometimes in steam tunnels or metering pits.” For Tumlin, this is the norm. He always checks the meter location, confirms pipe size, steam pressure and estimated flow rate. This is the Sierra way—building partnership with customers throughout the entire process.
Tumlin reports proudly that Vershum “has not lost a meter. It goes in and doesn’t break”.
Facilities Managers Love the Ease-of-Use of Innova-Mass
In the past with volumetric turbine meters, Vershum and other facilities managers had to calibrate the meters for a specific temperature, pressure, and pipe size with specific flow rates and units. This proved to be very tedious and time-consuming work. With its easy-to-use menu, changing ranges, outputs and totalizers and engineering units is simply done, either locally at the meter or remotely using HART or MODBUS.
“Sierra does this on the head…no pain no strain,” says Tumlin. And Vershum loves the “ability to remote mount the head.” He explains that sometimes the meters are in locations that would be impossible to reach without a ladder. The remote mounted head allows him to position the display where it can be read quickly.
The University of Toledo Campus Saves Money on Energy Costs
With Sierra installed, now Harvey Vershum can make informed energy saving decisions for the University of Toledo campus. He said, Sierra has given him the ability to track the steam usage. He has been able to verify the savings after he removed his old steam absorbers and installed new high efficiency electric chillers. The bottom line is that Harvey Vershum has saved University of Toledo money on energy costs and can do his job more easily, quickly, and with less hassle.
In January of 2008, Harvey Vershum ordered 5 more 241 Innova-Mass® Multiparameter Mass Flow Meters and will bid on 8 more later in the year.
When Rugged Reliability Matters. District Energy Management by Innova-Mass.
