Hydronics is the name for the use of water as the heat-transfer medium in heating and cooling systems.
Some of the oldest and most common examples are steam and hot-water radiators. In large-scale commercial buildings such as high-rise and campus facilities, a hydronics system may include both a chilled and a heated water loop, to provide for both heating and air conditioning. Chillers and cooling towers are used separately or together as means to provide water cooling, while boilers heat water. In addition, many larger cities have a district heating system that provides, through underground piping, publicly available steam and chilled water. By paying a service fee, a building in the service district may be connected to these.
Hydronic Systems are of three basic types:
- Steam
- Hot Water
- Chilled Water
Hydronic systems are classified in five ways:
- Flow Generation (Forced Flow or Gravity Flow)
- Temperature (Low, Medium and High)
- Pressurization (Low, Medium and High)
- Piping Arrangement
- Pumping Arrangement
Hydronic systems may be further described according to the general piping arrangement used:
- Single or One-pipe
- Two Pipe steam, (Direct Return or Reverse Return)
- Three Pipe
- Four Pipe
- Series Loop
Single-pipe steam
Single-pipe steam radiator
The oldest modern hydronic heating technology, a single-pipe steam system delivers steam to the radiators where the steam gives up its heat and is condensed back to water. The radiators and steam supply pipes are pitched so that gravity eventually takes this condensate back down through the steam supply piping to the boiler where it can once again be turned into steam and returned to the radiators.
Despite its name, a steam radiator does not primarily heat a room by radiation. If positioned correctly a radiator will create an air convection current in the room, which will provide the main heat transfer mechanism. It is generally agreed that for the best results a steam radiator should be no more than one to two inches from a wall.
Single-pipe systems are limited in both their ability to deliver high volumes of steam (that is, heat) and the ability to control the flow of steam to individual radiators (because closing off the steam supply traps condensate in the radiators). Because of these limitations, single-pipe systems are no longer installed.
The most common problems with air-venting valves occur when they are painted over, crushed, or clogged with rust, often leading to homeowner frustration. Improperly trained service technicians often respond to complaints by increasing boiler steam pressure rather than replacing air-venting valves. This actually makes matters worse, by causing high pressure steam to leak or otherwise, as well as wasting heating oil and energy. Investing in new air-venting valves for an old or troublesome single-pipe steam system, as well as taking the time to correctly size and adjust them, will reduce or eliminate many headaches once completed and lower heating fuel use and bills.
Two-pipe steam systems
In two-pipe steam systems, there is a separate return path for the condensate and it may involve pumps as well as gravity-induced flow. The flow of steam to individual radiators can be modulated using manual or automatic valves.
Two Pipe Direct Return System
The return piping as the name suggests takes the most direct path back to the boiler.
Advantages
Low cost of return piping in most but not all application and the supply and return piping are separated.
Disadvantages
This system can be difficult to balance due the supply line being a different length than the return, The further the heat transfer device is from the boiler the more pronounced the pressure difference. Because of this it is always recommended to minimize the distribution piping pressure drops, use a pump with a flat head characteristic, include balancing and flow measuring devices at each terminal or branch circuit and use control valves with a high head loss at the terminals.
Two Pipe Reverse Return System
The return piping takes the same basic path as the supply back to the boiler.
Advantages
This system is often considered "self balancing" however valves should always be included.
Disadvantages
Cannot trust that every system is self balancing without properly testing it.
Very large scale systems can be built using the two-pipe principle. For example, rather than heating individual radiators, the steam may be used in the reheat coils of large air handlers to heat an entire floor of a building.
Water loops
Modern systems almost always use heated water rather than steam. This opens the system to the possibility of also using chilled water to provide air conditioning.
In homes, the water loop may be as simple as a single pipe that "loops" the flow through every radiator in a zone. In such a system, flow to the individual radiators can not be modulated as all of the water is flowing through every radiator in the zone. Slightly more complicated systems use a "main" pipe that flows uninterrupted around the zone; the individual radiators tap off a small portion of the flow in the main pipe. In these systems, individual radiators can be modulated. Alternatively, a number of loops with several radiators can be installed, the flow in each loop or zone controlled by a zone valve connected to a thermostat.
In any water system, the water is circulated by means of one or more circulator pumps. This is in marked contrast to steam systems where the inherent pressure of the steam is sufficient to distribute the steam to remote points in the system. A system may be broken up into individual heating zones using either multiple circulator pumps or a single pump and electrically operated zone valves.
Boiler water treatment
Domestic (home) systems may use ordinary tap water, but sophisticated commercial systems often add various chemicals to the system water. These added chemicals may:
- Inhibit corrosion
- Prevent freezing of the water in the system
- Increase the boiling point of the water in the system
- Inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria
- Allow improved leak detection (for example, dyes that fluoresce under ultraviolet light)
Air elimination
All hydronic systems must have a means to eliminate air from the system. A properly designed system that is air-free should provide many years of excellent performance.
Air causes irritating system noise in addition to interrupting proper heat transfer as the system fluids circulate throughout the system. In addition, unless reduced below an acceptable level, the oxygen found within water will cause corrosion. This corrosion can cause rust and scale to build up on the system piping. Over time these particles can become loose and travel throughout the system. The particles can reduce flow and even clog the system in addition to causing damage to pump seals and other system components.
Accommodating thermal expansion
Water expands and contracts as it heats and cools. A water-loop hydronic system must have one or more expansion tanks in the system to accommodate this varying volume of the working fluid. These tanks often use a rubber diaphragm pressurised with compressed air. The expansion tank accommodates the expanded water by further air compression and helps maintain a roughly-constant pressure in the system across the expected change in fluid volume.
Automatic fill mechanisms
Hydronic systems are usually connected to a water supply (such as the public water supply). An automatic valve regulates the amount of water in the system and also prevents backflow of system water (and any water treatment chemicals!) into the water supply.
Safety mechanisms
Excessive heat or pressure may cause the system to fail. At least one combination over-temperature and over-pressure relief valve is always fitted to the system to allow the steam or water to vent to the atmosphere in case of the failure of some mechanism (such as the boiler temperature control) rather than allowing the catastrophic bursting of the piping, radiators, or boiler. The relief valve usually has a manual operating handle to allow testing and the flushing of contaminants (such as grit) that may cause the valve to leak under otherwise-normal operating conditions.
External links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hydronics."
