PFM main features ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Switching on and off .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Start of measuring................................................................................................................................................... 8
Sensor zero setting................................................................................................................................................ 11
Data recording......................................................................................................................................................12
Two Sensors Measuring for Balancing by the Proportional Method................................................................... 15
Calculation of valve presetting for a required flow in one branch....................................................................... 16
Calculation of pressure loss on the valve for required flow.................................................................................17
Working with Projects..........................................................................................................................................19
Starting with projects............................................................................................................................................ 20
Creating new project......................................................................................................................................... 21
Preparing for project balancing – measuring.................................................................................................... 23
Balancing of basic project................................................................................................................................25
Project with Central Pressure Input..................................................................................................................26
Balancing calculation of a project with central pressure input - procedure.....................................................27
Measuring actual flow...................................................................................................................................... 29
Replacement of sintered filters.............................................................................................................................30
Using of Routers...................................................................................................................................................31
Scheme of Using Routers................................................................................................................................. 32
Operations after PDA clean reset -.......................................................................................................................33
Radio card installation......................................................................................................................................33
PFM4000 Multisource program installation .................................................................................................... 36
• Accurate pressure measuring with true diff erential
pressure sensor and 24 bit ADC
• Hydraulic by-pass for exact small differential pressure
measuring
• External PT-100 thermometer
• Working with projects
• Programmable autonomous recording mode
• Main unit powered by rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Introduction
PFM 4000 Multisource has been designed for the servicing
and hydraulic balancing of most pressurised heating
and/or cooling systems. It enables measuring of both
under-pressure and over-pressure as well as that of
differential pressure within a given system. Furthermore,
using differences in pressure between the balancing and
measuring elements, the flow through individual branches
of the system can be measured, thus allowing the whole
system to be balanced. PFM 4000 Multisource has a
number of key features that enable easy handling. The
apparatus itself consists of two sepa rate units, main
pressure unit for measuring and computing unit based on
PDA for data analysis. The main pressure is extremely
robust with a sturdy frame and sound cover. It comprises
a differential pressure meter with an integrated true
differential pressure sensor for accurate digital data
processing. Owing to the advantages gained by the use of
digital technology, the PFM 4000 Multisource is able to
compensate for inaccuracies normally associated with
pressure measurements, such as temperature dependency
and non-linearity. In order to increase the accuracy of low
pressure measuring and to enable pressure connection
deaeration, the main pressure unit is designed with incoming
couplers by-pass for hydraulic zero setting. This forms the
basis for the accuracy of subsequent measurements. The
PFM 4000 Multisource can be supplemented with an external
thermometer connected via a coaxial connector. T he
temperature of the working medium can be easily measured
by inserting the thermometer into the differentia l p ressure
outputs due to their size compatibility with the balancing
valve measuring needles. One of the essential PFM 400
Multisource components for balancing hydraulic systems is a
built-in flow meter module. The flow meter works by
calculating the flow through a given branch within the system
using differences in pressure registered by the measuring
element.
1. Insert SD card in the
PDA. Run the PFM 4000
Multisource application
from Start Menu.
Select Measure in the main
menu.
2. Tip! Clicking on any
underlined text, e.g.
Valve, will open change
parameter window.
3. Select Menu, Change
sensor to connect
computing unit to the
sensor.
4. Select Search to obtain
a list of available sensors.
Select desired sensor
from the list and confirm
by clicking OK. If you use
router, router #1means
nearest router to PDA.
Searching of pressure
units do not run via
routers. Make sure that
you are close to pressure
unit during searching.
Calculation of
valve presetting
for a required
flow in one
branch
(continued)
5. Close valve and measure
the available pressure in
the branch.
6. Presetting for the
required flow will appear
in the Results window.
Presetting out of range
message will appear if it
is not possible to achieve
the required flow.
Calculation of
pressure loss
on the valve
for required
1. Click on Calculations
button in the main menu.
2. Select valve and enter
the current presetting in
the branch. Click on
Calculate pressure loss
button.
PFM 4000 Multisource includes a built-in module for project
balancing calculations comprised of one horizontal and a
maximum of 100 vertical branches. The calculation assumes
that the pressure input of
the project is constant and that the project is d e void of
negative feedback hydraulic elements (for instance
differential pressure regulators within branches or
thermostatic valves).
4. We recommend you
use the Projects folder
on the SD Card in case
of system failure.
Creating new
project
1. Select the Project tab
and click on Menu, New
followed by Edit buttons.
2. Fill in underlined fields
including Initial
presetting. Uncheck
Common Valve box if it
is not present in the
project
3. Example: Note it is not
necessary to fill in the
Input pressure at this
point. It will be possible to
measure it using the
Project/Measure function,
as described in the next
section. The calculated
Common valve presetting
can be viewed in the
Presetting Window at the
end of project balancing.
4. Select the Branch tab
and click on Menu, Add
button.
Valve Manufacturer and
Type, Requested flow and
the Initial presetting. The
other fields will be filled
automatically during
branch measuring or after
the balancing calculation.
6. Example: Similarly to
the Input pressure, it will
be possible to measure
the Initial flow and Close
pressure using the
Menu/Measure function.
7. Add the rest of the
branches included in the
project following the above
instructions. Note that the
order of branches in the
project must correspond to
the distance of each branch
from the input pressure
source.
8. The correct order of
branches in the project
can be set by moving
selected up or down in
the project structure.
Preparing for
project
balancing –
measuring
1. Prior to measuring, the Initial presetting has to be set on
all balancing valves within the project including the common
valve. When re-balancing an existing or newly designed
project, it is most effective to enter the actual presetting of
balancing valves within.
2. Connect PFM 4000
Multisource sensor to the
input pressure. Select
the Project tab followed
by the Menu/Measure
button.
3. The value measured will
be automatically filled in
the corresponding field.
4. Connect PFM 4000
Multisource sensor to the
balancing valve at any
branch and select the
appropriate branch in
the Branch tab. It is
necessary to measure
both the Flow through
the valve with Initial
presetting of the
balancing valve and the
Available pressure in the
branch with the
balancing valve being
closed.
23
Preparing for
project balancing
– measuring
(continued)
5. Click on the
Menu/Measure button and
select Before project
balancing type of
measuring.
6. PFM 4000 Multisource
will automatically choose
the correct valve and
presetting according to
the branch selected. The
Initial flow measured will
be saved along with the
rest of the branch data.
7. Close the balancing
valve in the branch prior to
measuring the available
pressure in the branch.
The value measured will
again be saved along with
branch data.
8. The project is ready for balancing after the Initial flow
and Available pressure for each branch of the project has
been measured.
Balancing of
basic project
1. Return to the Project tab
and click on the
Menu/Balancing button.
2. Select Basic project
balancing. The balancing
progress is depicted by a
bar graph.
3. In order to minimise power losses in the project, PFM
4000 Multisource starts balancing with a 3kPa pressure drop
on the balancing valve in the last branch. Next, the nonbalanced branches are optimised. If for any branch a higher
pressure drop is required on the balancing valve, the
computing will be restarted with an increased pressure drop
in the last branch. The balancing stops when the m inimum
number of branches is not balanced.
4. The result of
balancing appears in the
State field in the Start
Balancing window.
25
Project with
Central
Pressure
Input
We often come across systems with a central pressure input
with a distribution of the medium to either side of the input.
It is possible to balance such project by virtually dividing it
into two separate projects with
unidirectional branch distribution. The two projects are
measured and balanced individually and subsequently
drawn together using the Bind Projects command as
follows.
Balancing
calculation of a
project with
central pressure
input –
procedure
(continued)
9. Open the second side of
the middle powered project
– right side.
10. PFM 4000
Multisource will balance
the two projects
separately. Next, it will
rebalance the side of the
project that requires
higher pressure after the
common valve. Finally, it
will correct the KV of the
common valve for both
of the projects. The
balancing progress can
be monitored on the PDA
screen.
You can use relay wireless mode for long distance
measuring or measuring in project with heavy radio waves
propagation. Router is designed in PFM4000 casing with
external high performance thin-rod antenna. Router needs
only switching power On and OFF and its state is indicated
by LED diode.