Balancing valves

[josh]

Want so start using them on bigger jobs we do to make balancing easier.

To set them all you do is work out the flow rate and pressure loss, match them up on the products technical chart and set it to that, is that right?


Job we'r currently doing i have worked out the upstairs heating zone which is radiators (downstairs is ufh through out) works out at: Flow rate of 0.23 L/s and have a pressure loss of 300 pa/m.

From using the technical graph for the Honeywell V5010Y0025 i set the valve to setting 3 and that would give me the correct flow rate through the circuit, right or not? I want to use the inch version as the pipes will be 28mm.
here is the link for the chart and the valve i want to use: the chart for V5010 Kombi-3-plus BLUE, DN25.

[DLMURL]https://products.ecc.emea.honeywell.com/europe/pdf/v5000-5010-pd-en0h0278ge25r0605.pdf[/DLMURL]

any others that you'd reccomend that are better?
I like the look of this one as seems simple and the price is good in BSS.

When setting them when on single emitters, for example a fan heater in a shop, is the balancing valve simply set to the maximum flow rate required by the unit?


Cheers guys.

 

[Roger Welton]

When needed on larger jobs always have used TA valves

Combined control & balancing valves for small terminal units - TBV-C

they do a tool where you enter the fluid and valve type, connect to the 2 pressure points and it will tell you the flow through it so you can set up as per specs.

 

[Dotty]

Neither of which is wrong.

 

[josh]

Thanks for that Roger, what do you use to read across the test points?

 

[Roger Welton]

TA do there own bit of kit specifically for this job.

 

[bennygas]

Thanks for that Roger, what do you use to read across the test points?

At my place we have used differential manometers for this, josh - they're dear, but they can be hired if need be.

 

[josh]

Thank you guys for replying, much appreciated.
Where do you buy the Ta valves from, can't see them in the BSS catalogue.

 

[missplumb]

we used Oventrop balancing valves on our last job, and also bought a pressure and flow commissioning unit.AC6 Manometer - Comdronic Ltd
Works a treat, gives you all the information you need on one screen, has over 2000 preset valves, either fixed or variable and you can adjust the balancing valve and see exactly what your setting it to

 

[josh]

Thanks missplumb, looks impressive, really have got to be using the manometer a fair bit to make it worth buying, not just for us doing large houses!
what was the job where you used them on?

 

[bennygas]

I dunno, but by the the size of it, I think that thing's gonna be powering half of Europe

 

[missplumb]

it was a biomass boiler installation (well 2x 1Mw boilers).
its the first time weve used them but thought we better get the right equipment for the job. Easy to lose the cost on a big job like this but not on a smaller house job as you say.

 

[josh]

Thanks for sharing, nice work.
Your right, wouldn't be worth us getting the manometer but just going by the setting on the valve and would have to go with it, soon know if it wasn't right as customer would soon be on the phone.
Another reason why i'v thought about these is on extensions where they have underfloor heating added to a radiator system can find the manifold pump robs the water from the rad circuit/s, and having gate valves is a bit of a crude way of throttling it down.

 

[missplumb]

its all about how professional you want to be or want to appear to be, and also if the customer is prepared to pay for the extra controls. balancing valves are alot more expensive than a gate valveor lockshield valve, that comes down to how good a salesman you are!!

:yes:​

 

[Ermintrude]

Crude but very effective.

 

[josh]

Both very true

 

[missplumb]

we fund, supply, install and maintain all the systems we put in so its in our interests to make sure the systems run correctly, if that means putting an extra £8000 in balancing valves in then so be it. Customer has no say in it. Keeps things simple!!!!!!!

 

[josh]

Where do you buy them from and your pipe/fittings, BSS?
Their customer service is spot on, if not in store there by 7:30 next day.

 

[missplumb]

yes, BSS. For such a small new company as we are, we were the 4th biggest spenders at our local branch behind the big 3 mechanical outfits in our area.

 

[josh]

That's good going, do you only do commercial work?

 

[missplumb]

We only do biomass boilers and district heating, we started out installing to large domestic premises such as stately homes, castles etc and then we have also started to do more commercial premises such as garden centres, schools and multi property district heatings.

 

[josh]

Sounds interesting, is there many district heating systems around?
I am on the cibse mailing list and last year at short notice they invited anyone to go and have a look at a district heating system somewhere in London, would have gone if it'd not been short notice.

 

[Ermintrude]

District heating is now two or more dwellings or a business premises and a dwelling. Lots of farmers taking advantages of the loopholes . Obviously the non domestic has a longer payback but it's a pretty sound investment.


Miss do you work for mr money bags or is your company an investment tool for funds? Sounds really interesting. Most of our installs are less than 8k. ( what u spend on valves on one job) but your jobs might take 8 weeks ours take 8 hours .

 

[missplumb]

Its becoming more and more popular, especially with biomass and the commercial Rhi, there is alot of money to be made, hence why we fund and install and then claim rhi, customer has a new state of the art system to any properties he likes, doesnt cost him a penny upfront and depending on the service agreement, we can even provide the fuel and just charge him on a KW/h rate.

 

[josh]

Thanks for that Ermin.
Doesn't it cost a fortune just to be able to claim for the rhi and you have to jump through no end of hoops?

 

[Ermintrude]

No more than any other investment issue is mainly capital ! Lots of people see it as a brilliant way forward but can't make the initial ££££££ commitment. It's going to get bigger similar to seasonal storage. ( drill massive bore holes heat ground in summer with waste energy - then extract in winter) big in Canada

 

[Ermintrude]

Miss plumb you got any jobs up north, really interested in big bio but never even seen one over 450kw

 

[josh]

ah right, thanks. Learnt a fair bit this evening!