Pumping smarter, not harder with intelligent drives for maximized indoor comfort

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Peak HVAC performance with precise VFD control

USA: In Hayward, Wisconsin, a state-of-the-art health center now serves the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, providing accessible healthcare to a community that for decades has grappled with a long list of preventable illnesses. With the capacity to serve upwards of 80,000 patient visits each year, the facility is designed to deliver accessible, high-quality healthcare to the local tribe. The health center’s commitment to transforming lives and fostering well-being shines through in every detail of the new building — including its indoor climate solution, which is engineered for optimum comfort and safety.

The challenge: Ensuring year-round comfort in Wisconsin’s harsh winters

Designing an indoor climate solution for a healthcare facility involves meeting stringent technical requirements to ensure reliable, year-round comfort. In hydronic systems, achieving optimal performance has traditionally required the invasive installation of differential pressure sensors to accurately meter flow and balance the system. This approach not only increases installation complexity and costs but also demands extensive commissioning efforts. For a facility in a region known for harsh winters, such as Wisconsin, it is imperative that the system delivers dependable performance without compromise.

The solution: Intelligent drives for smarter pumping

Danfoss played a pivotal role by providing VLT® HVAC Drive FC 102 units, which transform system management through intelligent automation. By embedding pump performance curves directly into the drives’ memory, the system continuously monitors pump power and speed to automatically adjust hydraulic performance and meet precise head and flow requirements. This smart integration eliminates the need for external pressure sensors and simplifies the installation process.

A real benefit for us, as installers, is that the SelfSensing pumps offer the ability to see all facets of system performance. And, if adjustments are needed, they have the ability to easily balance pump curves to precisely fit system resistance. This greatly reduces system balancing and commissioning time while moving that capability to the installer, instead of an expensive add-on control or commissioning agent
Shawn Lund, Project Manager at KBK Services — the company responsible for the plumbing and HVAC systems for the build.

VLT® HVAC Drive FC 102

With built-in diagnostics and automatic alerts, this drive continuously tracks system performance, enabling proactive adjustments to maintain optimal operation. Working in harmony with the SelfSensing pumps, the overall solution delivers a responsive system that adapts to variable demands, reducing downtime and enhancing system performance.

Discover VLT® HVAC Drive FC 102

The outcome: Delivering consistent indoor comfort

The integration of Danfoss’ smart control system with TACO’s SelfSensing pumps has produced a solution that truly embodies pumping smarter, not harder. By eliminating invasive sensor installations, the project simplified commissioning and streamlined the installation process, while providing real-time oversight of indoor climate conditions. With this advanced solution, the health center is well-equipped to maintain a healthy, comfortable indoor environment for its patients — even during Wisconsin’s severe winters.

For building owners, this means custom integration with dramatically reduced installed cost, greater system intelligence, and continuous monitoring and control of system performance, and energy management for the life of the building
Shawn Lund, Project Manager at KBK Services.