Energy efficiency is high on the green agenda, and with the UK's leading energy companies' recent price rises, there is now more of an incentive than ever to be energy efficient and identify where savings can be made.
In the building services industry, Albion Valves UK Ltd is encouraging contractors and heating engineers to go back to basics to help avoid spiraling energy costs, and something as simple as a well-balanced commercial heating system can help address energy wastage.
Public buildings, such as hospitals, have complex heating and cooling systems, and therefore can be prone to big energy inefficiencies and ultimately money down the drain.
In a poorly balanced system, problems such as irregular temperature control and inconsistent water circulation can occur, consequently driving up operating costs, creating maintenance issues and wasting energy.
Benefits of a balanced system include; efficient operation of the system, constant desired room temperature and responsible use of resource, as well as lower maintenance costs and less carbon emissions. A well-balanced system ensures energy is distributed to where it is needed, as opposed to some areas becoming overly hot and others too cool.
Commissioning valves are a trusted first step to a well-balanced system, and with the growing use of dynamic balancing valves, this can be achieved without the need for complex commissioning processes. The cost of commissioning is generally a small fraction of the total system design cost, but delivers significant savings.
Les Littlewood, Albion Sales Director commented: "A well-balanced system starts with good system design. The designer calculates the mass of water required at each terminal unit, whether heating or cooling. Balancing valves create additional resistance in each branch to direct water in the required proportion to each terminal unit.
"Initial design considerations will take into account: the size of space to be conditioned, space usage, occupancy, construction materials and their thermal properties, heat losses and gains and general climatic conditions associated with the building."
Achieving optimum flow rate is essential, too high a flow rate may cause noise, energy wastage via overflow, pumping costs and potentially poor comfort as a result of over heating, whilst too low a flow rate may not dislodge entrapped air.
Flow velocities will generally be in the range 0.75 to 1.15m/s for pipe sizes 1/2" to 2" and 0.75 to 3m/s for size DN65 to DN300 with pipe pressure drop per meter length generally calculated at 140 to 280 kPa.
Modern, energy efficient heating systems often operate using thermostatically controlled radiator valves TRVs, which are self-regulating and control the water that enters a radiator and ultimately maintains a desired room temperature. TRVs include manual, thermostatic and lockshield valves, with a variety of orientation options.
Manual radiator valves are common in traditional heating systems and are operated like a tap, whereas lockshield valves are designed to control water flowing out of the radiator and offer a facility to balance radiators across an entire property or heating system.
Where older radiator systems have been replaced or refurbished with TRVs, 10-30% energy savings are achievable, with the higher savings in commercial applications realized with the appropriate design and inclusion of Differential Pressure Control Valves (DPCV).
DPCV and TRV operating together also offer many practical benefits, such as reduced noise, temperature stability with control and improved comfort so reducing issues for both tenants and end users.
Albion Valves currently stock around 5000 lines of industrial products, suitable for applications predominantly within the process, water and HVAC industries, all available from its distributor network.