Abstract: An efficient indirect building cooling system that bypasses a conventional chiller mechanism by connecting the indoor and outdoor intermediate fluid systems when conditions permit. This system includes indoor and outdoor fluid cooling circuits, each of which interfaces with the conventional chiller mechanism. The two fluid cooling circuits are connected together when weather conditions make doing so more efficient.

Abstract: An efficient indirect building cooling system that bypasses a conventional chiller mechanism by connecting the indoor and outdoor intermediate fluid systems when conditions permit. This system includes indoor and outdoor fluid cooling circuits, each of which interfaces with the conventional chiller mechanism. The two fluid cooling circuits are connected together when weather conditions make doing so more efficient.

Abstract: An improved closed loop variable volume water heating or cooling system having one or more work units for supplying heated or cooling water to a heating or cooling system which includes a dual purpose water mixing and air separator vessel. This vessel includes two inlets and one outlet port disposed in predetermined locations in the side walls of said vessel to receive and mix return water from the system and water bypassed from the work units prior to communicating this mixture to the supply inlet of the work units. The inlet ports are offset from the centerline of the vessel to cause entrained air to separate from the water streams and rise to exit the vessel through an air vent disposed in an upper portion of the vessel.

Abstract: An improved closed loop variable volume water heating or cooling system having one or more work units for supplying heated or cooling water to a heating or cooling system which includes a dual purpose water mixing and air separator vessel. This vessel includes two inlets and one outlet port disposed in predetermined locations in the side walls of said vessel to receive and mix return water from the system and water bypassed from the work units prior to communicating this mixture to the supply inlet of the work units. The inlet ports are offset from the centerline of the vessel to cause entrained air to separate from the water streams and rise to exit the vessel through an air vent disposed in an upper portion of the vessel.

Abstract: Wire-to-water efficiency (W) of a multi-pump system is monitored and accurately determined according to the formula: ##EQU1## wherein Q is flow through the system, HS is total dynamic head across the inlet and outlet headers of the system, E is energy input to the system to drive the pump, and K is a predetermined conversion factor. The resulting efficiency determination is provided to an operator so that the pump system may be monitored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling a multi-pump system is described wherein wire-to-water efficiency (W) is accurately determined according to the formulaW=(Q.times.HS/K.times.E)wherein Q is flow through the system, HS is total dynamic head across the inlet and outlet headers of the system, E is energy input to the system to drive the pump, and K is a predetermined conversion factor. The pumps of the system are selectively energized and deenergized as the efficiency W varies above and/or below efficiency setpoints so as to optimize the efficiency of the pumping system.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an increase in heat is provided which utilizes a light path such as a fiber optic cable which is coupled between a light source and a light detector. The fiber optic cable has predetermined light transmission characteristics which are changeable in response to an increase in heat in the vicinity of the cable. As a result, the amount or frequency of light detected by the light detector will change in response to the increase in heat. The apparatus is also described in connection with an electrostatic paint spray system.