Hello EMTF Colleagues! Introducing from The city of Saskatoon's Blaine Knoblauch, P.Eng

Why Condensing Boilers Don't Guarantee Efficient Operation – Blaine’s presentation will focus on optimizing the efficiency of condensing hot water boilers in building heating applications. The boiler efficiency is dependent on the HWRT (hot water return temperature) being less than 130F., and ideally less than 118.F where you begin to reach about 90% efficiency. Retrofits with condensing boilers will not produce desired results unless the terminal heating units have been designed to operate with low temperature hot water. Primary and Secondary loop separations make it even more difficult to achieve a low temperature returning to the boiler due to the inequality of flow rates that often occur between the loops.

Blaine Knoblauch - gained Buildings HVAC experience primarily working at Honeywell in the years 2000 to 2015 developing Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) projects for varied clients. He then continued that style of work as an employee for City of Saskatoon, establishing an EPC relationship between an ESCO (energy service company) and the CoS, and over 6 years (2018-2024) installed LED lighting, boilers, boiler burners, chillers, fans, VAV retrofits, VFDs, and control networks for aforementioned equipment.

Clients prior to the CoS experience included CF Bases Halifax and Winnipeg(Dundurn); City of Gander; Trillium Health Toronto; several Health Regions in SK and AB; SK Crown Corp.; SaskPower Facilities; and some SK School Divisions. Many dozens of buildings include for example: Toronto East General Hospital, and a variety of other hospitals and LTC centers in SK, chemical research labs, swimming pools, fleet vehicle repair depots, weld shops, curling rinks, hockey rinks, wastewater treatment facilities, Sturdy Stone, MacIntosh Mall, SaskPower HQ, Regina Science Center, Government House, and others. In the earliest part of his career, Blaine developed new model air-air plate and heat-wheel HRVs/ERVs for Venmar/CES in Saskatoon, learning the principles of Psychrometry, 6-Sigma Quality Management, QFD product development methodology and project management. More recently Blaine is focusing on optimizing variable speed chilled water pumping, AHU economizer control, VAV static pressure reset, and boiler loop temperature reset.

Blaine is a member of APEGS and ASHRAE

Agenda

7:00am – 7:30am – Casual networking  (in-person only) 
7:30am – 8:00am – Announcements. (hybrid) 
8:00am – 8:40am – Presentation  (hybrid) 
8:40am – 9:00am – Q & A (hybrid) 

In person — Join us at 7:00 am at Confederation Inn (3330 Fairlight Dr, Saskatoon). Fees are as noted on the website presentations page.

How do you access the Zoom meeting?
Register to attend this meeting presentation by emailing us at: contact@emtfsask.ca.

These Zoom meetings are offered free of charge.


Regards
Angie Bugg, Ken Coutu & William Popiel (EMTF Saskatoon presentation committee).