FAQS

The XFC system is a forced heating and cooling air management system that brings its greatest benefits to facilities with high ceilings. The XFC works with all HVAC systems that use forced air (warm and cold) to condition the space. It can stratify or de-stratify a space depending on season and building demand greatly enhancing the existing HVAC equipment’s efficiency. Up to 30% improvements in air conditioning and heating have been demonstrated. The XFC uses conventional HVAC construction materials and easily integrates with existing HVAC rooftop units (RTUs) and building controls. XCo targets from 5 ton up to 20-ton+ single systems (or zones).

The costs vary per application, depending on existing HVAC infrastructure and building requirements. Significant annual utility savings + IRS Section 179 Bonus Depreciation + state and/or utility rebates + low interest financing make most applications in the 1-year payback range or less. We would be glad to evaluate your facility and give you a cost and savings estimate.

Due to the enhanced efficiency and lower peak demand periods, an XFC system installation during a retrofit can save significant capital costs on RTU count and HVAC total tonnage required. The number and size of RTU’s can be reduced – effectively paying for the XFC upgrades.

Humidity levels are typically measured at occupant level and because the XFC system focuses on increasing comfort and temperature control at that level, humidity in that space is also controlled more effectively.  By stratifying the air in cooling mode and returning at the mid-line, the air temperature above the mid-line will be elevated.  As the temperature of the volume of air above the mid-line rises, by definition the humidity level at the ceiling decreases. If you raise the temperature of a constant volume of air at constant humidity – making that air warmer – by definition you are lowering the moisture content of that air.  As the air temperature goes up high in a space, two things occur.  The humidity level of the air goes down and the materials in contact with the air heat up.  The warming of the materials prevents condensation (sweating).  The lack of liquid water prevents the growth of mold.

Our experience at Holmatro as validated by University of Maryland in the hot and humid Maryland summer is that the increased efficiency of the system (with the XFC), the stratification of the air, and the focus on the occupied zone allowed us to raise the thermostat set point from 70 to 72 or 72 to 74.  The occupants were more comfortable at the desired internal humidity setting, resulting in significantly less energy consumption.

In heating mode, the  system is de-stratifying the air up top and bringing with the warm supply air warm air accumulated at the ceiling down to the occupied space.  So, by having the return low, the system brings the “trapped” air down to the employee or customer level and removes the undesirable colder air where heat is most needed.  Traditional heating, where return and supply are high – allows for short circuiting and you must overheat the unoccupied space to get the lower level to set-point.

 XCo uses HVAC engineering partners for the evaluation of your facility pre- and post-installation utilizing site historical data, current RTU configuration and engineer modeling to predict the system benefits. Data such as past utility bills, ambient site conditions, existing HVAC equipment, etc. will support an informed assessment. 

Yes, a detailed investigation performed by the University of Maryland on an XCo Flow Controller installation in Glen Burnie, Maryland is available here: 

XCo equipment is sold directly, simply inquire for more information here.  

All RTUs are designed to overcome some level of static pressure.  Low pressure systems with a single RTU are typically designed to support 1-1.5” of water column.  The XFC and ancillary ductwork have been designed to minimize the static pressure each RTU will see.  The pressure drop associated with the XFC and ductwork is expected to be minimal, as low as 0.2’-.35” water column for typical installations.  In certain cases where it is determined via engineering analysis and testing/balancing that the existing RTU cannot maintain airflow due to the increased static pressure, the supply fan speed can be increased, and even for an extended run of ductwork the worst case scenario is that the supply fan motor could be upsized – which we do not anticipate.