Nordic R-45, Installation And Service Manual, Page: 20 / 91

1-Nov-2021 Page 20 001200MAN-09
Ductwork
Zoning
Zoning can be done with heat pumps that have 2-stage
compressors, but only to a limited extent. It is recommended
that no zone be less than 1/3 the total area, to avoid problems of
high airflow and noise through one zone or safety control trips
due to capacity mismatch between heat pump and zones.
The airflow can be reduced by 15% by making a dry con-
tact across AR1 and AR2 on the thermostat terminal strip in the
heat pump’s electrical box, as show in Wiring chapter.
When only one zone of 50% or less is calling for heating or
cooling, the compressor should be limited to stage 1 operation
by the zone controller by sending only a Y1 (without Y2) control
signal. Stage 1 corresponds to ~67% compressor capacity and
~80% airflow.
Refer to airflow tables in the Model Specific Information
chapter for airflows with the various reductions.
Duct Systems - General
Ductwork layout for a heat pump will differ from traditional
hot air furnace design in the number of leads and size of main
trunks required. Air temperature leaving the heat pump is
normally 95º -105ºF (35-40ºC) , much cooler than that of a
conventional fossil fuel furnace. To compensate for this, larger
volumes of lower temperature air must be moved and
consequently duct sizing must be able to accommodate the
greater airflow without creating a high static pressure or high
velocity at the floor diffusers.
A duct system capable of supplying the required airflow is
of utmost importance. Maritime Geothermal Ltd. recommends
that the external static pressure from the duct system be kept
below 0.2 inches of water total. In some instances the number
of floor diffusers will actually double when compared to the
number that would be used for a hot air oil-fired furnace. Refer
to following tables.
1. Generally allow 100 cfm for each floor grill.
2. All leads to the grills should be 6'' in diameter (28sq.in. each).
3. The main hot air trunks should be at least 75% of the square
surface area of leads being fed at any given point.
4. Return air grills should have a minimum of the same total
square surface area as the total of the supply grills.
5. The square surface area of the return trunks should equal
the square surface area of the grills being handled at any
given point along the trunk.
It is
VERY IMPORTANT
that all turns in both the supply
trunks and the return trunks be made with
TURNING RADII
. Air
act like a fluid and, just like water, pressure drop is increased
when air is forced to change direction rapidly around a sharp or
irregular corner.
It is recommended that flexible collars be used to connect
the main trunks to the heat pump. This helps prevent any vibra-
tions from travelling down the ductwork. If a plenum heater is
installed, the collar should be at least 12” away from the heater
elements.
If desired, the first 5-10 feet of the main supply trunks can
be insulated internally with acoustical duct insulation to further
inhibit any noise from the unit from travelling down the ductwork.
If a plenum heater is installed, insulation should not be placed
within 12” of the heater elements.
Duct Systems - Grill Layout
Most forced air heating systems in homes have the floor
grills placed around the perimeter of the room. Supply grills
should be placed under a window when possible to help prevent
condensation on the window. As mentioned in the previous sub
-section, supply grill leads should be 6'' in diameter (28 square
inches each) to allow 100 cfm of airflow.
In a typical new construction, there should be one supply
grill for every 100 square feet of area in the room. When rooms
require more than one grill, they should be placed in a manner
that promotes even heat distribution, such as one at each end of
the room. It is always a good idea to place a damper in each
grill supply or place adjustable grills so that any imbalances in
the heat distribution can be corrected.
The total number of supply grills available is based on the
heat pump nominal airflow. The table shows the number of
grills recommended per heat pump size.
Return grills should be mounted on the floor. At minimum
they should be the same size as the supply grill, it is highly rec-
ommended that they be 25% to 50% larger than the total
supply. They should be placed opposite the supply grills
when possible to ensure distribution across the room. For
rooms requiring more than one supply grill, it may be possible to
use one larger return grill if it can be centrally positioned oppo-
site of the supply grills, however it is preferred to have one re-
turn for each supply to optimize heat distribution across the
room.
Thermostat Location
Most homes are a single ducted air zone with one thermo-
stat. The thermostat should be centrally located within the
home, typically on the main floor. It should be placed away from
any supply grills, and should not be positioned directly above a
return grill. Most installations have the thermostat located in a
hallway, or on the inner wall of the living room. It should be not-
ed that most homes do not have any supply ducts in the hall-
way. This can lead to a temperature lag at the thermostat if
there is very little air movement in the hallway, causing the
home to be warmer than indicated by the thermostat.
Plenum Heater
The plenum heater will be usually installed inside the heat
pump, as described in the Installation Basics section. If the
blower is installed in the side discharge position, the plenum
heater will be installed in the discharge ductwork outside the
unit, at least 12” away from any flexible duct collars. There is an
accessory plenum heater with a wider cage profile available that
is more suitable for duct installation.
TABLE 10 - Heat Pump Size vs. Hot Air Grills
Model Size (tons) # of Grills (@100 cfm)
45 3 12
55 4 15
65 5 19
75 6 21
80 6.5 23