HYDRONICS
B y B o b “ Ho t R o d ” R o h r
Who is in control around here? Beyond piping, integrated systems present some challenges ou take a few steps backwards, snap a few “glamour” shots and send your piping pics around the globe. It is a common practice these days to share mechanical room piping on the various chat rooms and social media sites. Some incredible piping can be found if you have time to search around. Perfectly piped, gorgeous back wall treatment, even custom lighting and unique artwork is sometimes included. There is no doubt the industry has been elevated with all the articles and training on best practices for boiler or mechanical room piping. I am particularly enamored with the clever blending of piping and connections. Back in the day threaded steel pipe and copper sweated together was the method used by most all fitters and installers. While those piping materials still are the go-to materials, an array of connection types are now being used. Press and grip fittings are working their way into piping systems of all types of pipe and tube. PEX and PP piping materials are also becoming more common for boiler room piping. The industry seems to have a good handle on the mechanical and piping component of hydronics. Equally important is how to control the piping “Picasso.” We will continue to see more blended mechanical systems. By this I mean a combination of heating and cooling components piped together. It is not uncommon in parts of Canada and the U.S. to see multiple boilers piped to take advantage of the best energy rates. Electric boilers, for example, can be piped with a fossil-fuelled counterpart. The electric boiler takes advantage of off-peak or desirable lowcost KWs. The oil- or gas-fired components will take over when the cost of operating the electric source increases. This toggling between the two or more heat sources could be done with a
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Photo: HBX Control Systems Inc.
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“I am particularly enamored by the clever blending of piping and connections.” simple time of day clock, manually, or by a smart control attuned to the changing energy rates. The movement away from strictly fossil-fuelled systems is underway. Fossil fuel is no longer available in several jurisdictions for new construction installations. The obvious option is a heat generator and DHW source that is powered by electricity. Uncertainty of the reliability and cost of an electricityonly powered home has some designers and installers providing a hybrid option. Perhaps leaving the fossil-fuelled devices in place and connecting an electric powered partner makes better sense. The electric side could be a straight resistance style, or one of the updated heat pump options.
