Building Services Engineering l November/December 2021
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DOMESTIC HEATING SYSTEMS
It’s all about balance Noisy radiators, uneven heat, using too much energy … all installers have experienced these common complaints from customers. But there is an easy way to deal with all of them by using hydronic balancing, the Grundfos way. Hydronic balancing – easier said than done Until now, to balance the system, installers have had to rely on manufacturers’ standard settings, refer to generic tables, or base balancing on experience or recommendations from radiator or TRVs manufacturers. The result is that many heating systems do not operate efficiently. In fact, recent research (CO2online, 2017) shows that 82% of heating systems in existing buildings in Germany alone were incorrectly balanced. Basic or insufficient hydronic heating system balancing can frequently become the installer’s headache when homeowners look for a solution for uneven heat and poor comfort in their home.
Different impacts of system balancing In condensing boilers, excessive operation can cause a rise in return flow
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temperatures due to loss of condensing, making the system less efficient. The introduction of hydrogen boilers will compound this issue in the future as fuel will not be so cheap. For heat pumps, flow temperature needs to be as low as possible to minimise energy costs and maximise performance. Increasing flow velocities also increases the circulation pump’s energy consumption, as well as flow noise inside thermostats and radiators. The solution to all of these issues is correct balancing, but traditionally that’s been a time-consuming process, requiring the advanced measuring and adjustment of each valve – something few installers have time for.
Grundfos 5-step hydronic balancing System balancing with Grundfos requires that the circulator installed in the heating system is one of the following: ALPHA2 (with ALPHA
Reader accessory), ALPHA3, UPM3 LIN. Installers also need to download the Grundfos GO Balance app, which is available on iOS and Android. The app works in a range of heating systems, including two-string radiator systems and underfloor heating systems, both with pre-set valves, and can balance any of them easily in just five simple steps. 1. Download and open the Grundfos GO Balance app; 2. Start the balancing – the app goes through the hydronic balancing process step-by-step; 3. Add measurements – for each room in the home add room specifications, radiator specifications and Q+H measurements; 4. Balance each room – when measurements are completed adjust each heat emitter according to the calculated target flow; 5. Get the report – when the hydronic balancing is completed, documentation to support what has been done is issued. Once a system is properly balanced, customers not only enjoy better indoor comfort, but also save as much as 20% on their annual energy bills. Contact: Grundfos. T: 01 – 408 9800; E: salesireland@sales.grundfos.com Q
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