Water distribution can be carried out in HVAC plants with either a constant flow or a variable flow. There are benefits and drawbacks to each sort of distribution system.
The electronic 2-way electronic air flow control valve-based variable flow systems are now widely recognized as the industry standard. This is due to the several benefits they offer. Reduced pumping costs that come from pump head and flow are the key factor in it becoming the industry standard. The overall flow will thus be lower the more control valves that close.
The plant can also be configured with a variety of factors as flow is only required where energy is required. Nowadays, variable flow systems also have drawbacks in addition to these benefits. These are as under:
Disadvantages of Today’s Systems:
The following are a couple of drawbacks of modern piping systems:
Rebalancing Is Necessary:
In a traditional system, adding terminals necessitates rebalancing the entire system since some old terminals must be throttled down. Naturally, this also applies to buildings with shifting occupants or new room uses.
Unreliable Valve Authority:
A building generally operates at design conditions just 1% of the time. A typical load of 50% must be supplied by the hydronic system for the remaining 99%. As a result, flow is decreased by 20%, and the differential pressures across the electronic air flow control valve rise.
The valve authority lowers and the modulating valve is degraded to one acting open or shut simply since the CV-rating of the valve was sized for design circumstances. This enables hunting frequent.
Pressure Independent Characterized Control Valve:
The advanced PICCV valves are one of the most reliable electronic air flow control valves used in industries so far. They offer numberless advantages including:
Simple Choice:
There is no need to calculate the CV, and the right electronic air flow control valve may be chosen after the flow computation. The proper choice for a 9.0 GPM valve is if the flow is 8.7 GPM. Typically speaking, the next larger valve should be used. Given the variable flow range, a change may always be made in the field.
Modular Finish:
It is possible to order plants in stages. The ability to build up individual zones without needing to rebalance makes expanding the system or renovating easier.
One-Piece Assembly:
The electronic flow control valves and the balancing valve are both included in the small pressure-independent valve. As a result, the valve reduces the investment in the balancing valve and labour expenses by 50% during installation. Moreover, the installation space is also reduced by around 2/3.
Maintains the Heat:
It is guaranteed that pressure-independent valves will have the intended flow under full or partial load conditions. Since the calculated T will be reached, chillers, condensing boilers, coils, or heat exchangers will all operate more efficiently.
Wrapping It Up:
Independent electronic air flow control valves are widely used by industrial sectors nowadays. This is because they offer both manufacturing and energy savings. And when it comes to pressure balancing, these mechanical devices are the most up-to-the-mark choices to be made accordingly.
