A mod/con boiler can only supply one water temperature to the space-heating system at a time. This is fine when all loads have a similar temperature requirement, but it presents a challenge when loads such as slab-type floor heating and panel radiators are combined into the same system.
Variable-speed
injection has been used in North American hydronic systems for well over a
decade. Two important details are crucial to proper operation...
Our
industry has used primary/secondary piping systems for years. Most engineers
currently designing hydronic systems are familiar with how these systems
operate, as well as how they are designed. Still, based on discussions I’ve
had, it’s evident that questions remain, particularly on this issue of flow
reversal when secondary circuit flow rate exceeds primary loop flow rate.
Primary/secondary
(P/S) piping has been used in hydronic heating and cooling systems since the
late 1950s. It’s based on the concept of hydraulic separation (e.g., flow in
one circuit will not induce flow in another circuit coupled to it). In P/S
systems, this separation is achieved using a pair of closely spaced tees.
In many hydronic systems, there’s a need to divide system flow into several equal streams that pass through several identical components. The physics necessary for this are simple: If the flow resistance of each parallel path is the same, the total flow will divide equally.
Often, the best techniques for designing radiant floor heating in these facilities are synergistic-they complement each other in ways that enhance performance and reduce cost.
With crude oil prices in North America staying near $75 a barrel, many consumers are taking a renewed interest in solar energy as a supplement to heat provided by conventional fuels.
One might conclude that our industry has just about hit the limit of what's theoretically possible with converting fuel into heat. That little remains to be accomplished in terms of efficiency improvements. But just as an oasis fades away when you're just about to it, so does this illusion of nearly perfect efficiency.
One of the distinct trends in custom residential construction over the last 20 years has been increased interest in luxury bathrooms. The North American plumbing industry has done a superb job of promoting such bathrooms as luxurious escapes from the cares of life. Central to that concept is surrounding oneself with lavish amounts of warm water, be it in a deep whirlpool tub, or a simulated tropical downpour showering experience.