Messana MZone User manual

messana zone

mZone, the controller that conveys comfort and energy where and when needed

Messana mZone delivers a uniform comfort level thorough your living space.

designed in California & made in Italy

Programmable zone controller

mZone is a fully programmable zone controller available in two different sizes: 8 and 12 zones.

It is integrated with the Messana climate control platform developed with more then 20 years of experience in

radiant cooling and heating technology. It connects with mBox via Ethernet or, alternatively, via serial bus (RS485

slave) and it interfaces with the Messana web and mobile App.

mZone is powered with a dedicated Emerson programmable I/O module based on a high performance 32-bit ARM9

(200 MHz) microprocessor.

mZone integrates a 24Vdc switching power supply (120-230 Vac with 85W output power for mZone 8 and 120W for

mZone 12) and does not require an external transformer to drive thermal actuators. With a proprietary staggered

activation technology it can drive up to 34 thermal actuators (with mZone 12)

The mZone module connects up to twelve mSense room sensors (mZone 12) or up to eight mSense (mZone 8) in

daisy-chain via serial bus (RS485 master zone bus).

mZone modules are typically installed next to the manifolds to control the flow or the radiant fluid by activating the

thermal actuators installed on the manifold loops or the zone valves.

mZone can also control a local mixing and pumping station with a PID close control loop.

Based on the current supply fluid temperature, mZone adjusts the position of a proportional 3-way mixing valve

and modulate the fluid temperature. Compared to a traditional On/Off control, this technology allows to deliver just

enough heat (or cool, by heat extraction) to avoid temperature swings and oscillations.

With the PID control logic the radiant system always achieves optimized performance in terms of energy efficiency

and comfort maintaining an accurate and uniform indoor temperature.

mZone is designed for 2-pipe as well as for 4-pipe distribution systems for simultaneous heating and cooling

demand. Can also control heating and cooling seasonal changeover (manually or following a schedule) or

automatic changeover based on the internal load and external conditions (adaptive-comfort).

It works also with hybrid radiant/forced-air cooling and heating systems. Can activate fan-coils when supplemental

convective integration is necessary.

One of the features that distinguishes the mZone controller, compared to similar products available on the market,

is the vast range of both analog and digital input/outputs ports to connect with external devices. Most of the I/Os

are fully configurable and are opto-insulated.

As an optional, mZone can be equipped with a graphic display that allows reading of all the parameters (supply

and return temperature, flow and pressure, zone status, zone temperature and humidity) and to perform manual

installation test (pump and zone activations, force zone on or off, mixing valve setup).

Making control simple and powerful

Controlled by mBox

mZone connects to mBox (via

Ethernet or serial bus RS485).

mBox is the brain of any Messana

climate control platform. It is

based on a Linux embedded

system and it operates advanced

radiant cooling logics.

WAGO CAGE-CLAMP®

WAGO terminal blocks with

CAGE CLAMP® connection

technology.

It makes connections

to the mZone safe, quick and

easy. It requires a small screw

driver to open the clamp and the

wire (strained or solid conductor)

is inserted in the clamp.

Connect with mSense

mZone controls up to 8

(mZone8) or 12 (mZone 12)

different zones. Each zone

is monitored with the new

Messana mSense room comfort

sensor that measures operative

temperature, relative humidity,

and indoor air quality.

Graphic display (optional)

mZone can be equipped with

a graphic display to show I/O

status and allow the operator

to troubleshoot the system and

perform basic tests on thermal

actuator, pumps, mix valve,

actuators etc.

mZone modules are powered

by a dedicated Emerson

programmable I/O controller.

Emerson is the world’s leading

provider of HVAC control

solutions for residential, and

commercial applications.

Opto-insulated I/Os

Opto-isolators provide a safe

interface to protect internal

circuits from excessive or

transient voltage spikes that

could potentially damage the

device.

PID temperature control

mZone can control one or two

mix/pump stations. With a

PID (Proportional Integrative

Derivative) control logic, it

modulates the fluid temperature

to optimize comfort and energy.

Programmable analog I/Os

Programmable I/Os allow to

integrate with different types

of hvac devices. Analog inputs

are configurable as NTC, PTC,

0-20mA, 4-20mA, 0-10V, 0-5V,

0-1V, or DI. Analog outputs can

be set as 0-10V or 4-20mA.

PID

Staggered activation

Messana has developed an

optimization algorithm that

stagger the opening of thermal

actuators to minimize the

maximum current rush. This

technology allows to increase

the number thermal actuators

(up to 34 with mZone 12).

BOX

110/220Vac

50/60Hz

PID

Control Logic Rooms Temperature

Radiant

Panel

Heat

0-10V

 T

mZone can dynamically modulate the fluid supply temperature when is combined with an hydronic mixing and

pumping station.

The mixing station features a high efficiency recirculating pumps, a motorized 3-way proportional mixing valve

(0-10V or 2-10V) and two temperature probes installed on the supply (S) and return pipes (R). This configuration

allows to a PID (Proportional Integrative Derivative) control loop with temperature feedback mechanism.

PID Control Logic Schematic

Messana PID temperature control logic

Time

Temp

Set-point 72

OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON

ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF

Legend

PID

ON / OFF Control

OFF ON

The Messana PID control logic evaluates the supply temperature (target ) based on how far is each zone from the

desired set-point (proportional), how long is in that status (integrative) and how quick the radiant terminals reacts

to the fluid temperature change (derivative). This technology allows to deliver just enough heat (or cool, by heat

extraction) to always meet the actual internal loads and maintain the correct room operative temperature within a

0.5F differential.

With the PID control logic the radiant system achieves optimized performance in terms of energy efficiency and

comfort maintaining always an accurate and uniform indoor temperature.

The PID control logic regulates the supply water temperature, and ultimately the room temperature, based on the

three different actions:

Actions Based on

Proportional The actual value of the room temperature

Integral The past values of the room temperature

Derivative The expected variation of the room temperature

Power pick optimization note 1

Time

Power pick is reduced by 40%

Power

7.2W x N/2

6W x N

1W x N/2

Start 2 minutes

Legend

Staggered activation with two groups of actuators each

Normal activation

NIs the total number of thermal actuators

6W x N/2

Power pick (6W x N)

2W x N/2

The Messana thermal actuators are based on a PTC resistor-heated elastic element and a return compression

spring. When the elastic element is heated by applying the 24V voltage to the PTC resistor, it expands and moves an

integrated plunger to open the valve. When the PTC resistor stop being energized, the elastic element shrinks and

the return compression spring moves the plunge back and close the valve.

During the activation of the actuator there is an initial phase of about 2 minutes where more heat is necessary to

expand the elastic element. During this initial phase the current spikes up to 6 times the nominal current needed to

hold the actuator activated. This initial high load (6 Watts per actuator) limits the number of thermal actuators that

can be activated simultaneously based on the total available power supply. Once the actuator is open, the elastic

element needs to be maintained hot and this requires only 1 Watt per actuator (nominal power).

When sizing the power supply of zoning module, in order to satisfy the initial rush current needed to open

simultaneously all the actuators, it requires 6W x N (total number of actuators). With the intent of optimizing

the maximum number of actuators that can be driven by one mZone module, Messana has developed a new

technology that staggers the activation of actuators and avoid the initial load pick. It is a group delay mechanism

that prevents to turn on multiple actuators at the same time to prevent power surge. The actuators attached to the

mZone are divided in two groups of N/2 actuators each.

The staggered activation logic activates the first group of actuators (group #1) and wait until they complete the

initial opening phase (about 2 minutes). Once the first group of actuators is partially open, and the power has

dropped close to its nominal value (1W x N/2), the logic starts the activation of the second group of actuators

(group #2).

With an overall delay of 2 minutes, the staggered activation logic can operate two distinct groups of actuators and

reduce the power pick by about 40%. This allows to increase the total number of thermal actuators by 66%

This is particularly useful when controlling radiant floors where typically there are several loops attached to the

same zone.

Staggered activation of the thermal actuators

Notes 1. Staggered activation with 2 groups of thermal actuators. Group #1 is activated fist and Group # 2 is activated with 2 minutes of

delay to minimize the power pick. It turns out that the power pick is reduced by 40%. This allows the mZone controller to drive up

to 66% more thermal actuators.

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