Chilled Water Pipe Vibration Isolators - Vibration isolators protect the chilled water piping from receiving vibrations transmitted through the piping when the chillers are running. The vibrations can create problems not only for the chilled water piping but also for the building’s structure. The vibration isolators reduce or eliminate the vibrations that can be transmitted by the chillers. (more…)
Heat Trace Tape Control for HVAC Piping - HVAC Piping systems, especially in the Northern regions, need a way to freeze protect piping the runs outdoor which is a necessity in many different HVAC application. To protect HVAC piping from freezing heat trace tape is wound around the pipe and controlled by an outdoor thermostat or temperature control that energizes the heat trace tape and keeps the pipe from freezing. (more…)
DDC Controlled Chilled Water Actuator
DDC Controlled Chilled Water Actuator | HVAC Automation. This chilled water actuator is attached to a valve which supplies chilled water to the air handling unit. The air handling has a chilled water coil. The actuator modulates the valve based on a set point inside the DDC program. If the program has trim and respond capabilities the set point will rise up and down based on demand. Demand from the VAV boxes or the HVAC zones. Most DDC controlled actuators work off of a DC volt or current signal. (more…)
Boiler Pipe Insulation - Energy Efficiency - Richard, I have lots of my boiler pipe under the house in a crawl space and some in the basement, and none of this pipe is insulated. I just bought the house last year and this past winter my gas bill was crazy high. Can I increase efficiency by insulating these pipes and what are some other ways to keep the gas bill lower by optimizing the boiler system?
Thanks and I look forward to your answer……….Bill – Pittsburgh, PA
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Boiler Piping Plant Renovation - Hot Water Boiler Piping for a commercial boiler application. Boiler project being renovated and getting all new DDC controls for optimum hydronic control and efficiency. Boilers are an excellent way of providing good hot water heating to a large building or community.
In this case, new boilers were installed to replace the old inefficient boilers. The piping was rearranged and a hot water boiler economizer preheater added to make efficiency better. New controls were added for remote monitoring and control and to improve efficiency. Lastly, the entire plant got a makeover to make things more reliable, efficient, and modern. (more…)
Hot Water Boiler Piping Zone Valves - Boiler piping zone valves are used for zoning hot water systems where multiple zones are needed. Hot water system zoning can also reduce energy cost because hot water heat zones which are not needed can be shut down thereby reducing boiler runtime to provide hot water heat for those specific zones.
Zoning a hot water boiler system can be done by using these zone valves and separate thermostats for each zone. The boiler piping loop is separated using zone valves on a manifold type system with each zone originating at the manifold. The manifold is piped directly to the boiler. (more…)
How Cooling Towers Work - Cooling towers use evaporation cooling to cool condenser water from a chiller. Water is pumped to the top of the cooling tower, where the water flows down some flow plates to the cooling tower basin. As the water is flowing down the flow plates air is pulled through the plates and over the water where it releases heat through evaporation. (more…)
Outside All Weather Boiler - Outside all-weather boilers are used in circumstances where it is not possible to install the boiler inside a mechanical room or anywhere in the building. There some considerations one needs to take into account about having an outdoor boiler especially if it is for a residential application. (more…)
Chapter Three NEC and HVAC - Chapter Three in the NEC covers Wiring Methods which includes how the wiring is supposed to run, the conduit for wiring, outlets, junctions, and switch points, and a host of other topics about the proper way to run wiring.
HVAC Technicians will be familiar with piping support as is required in the Mechanical Code and electricians must follow some of the same rules when running conduit and add support for the conduit. (more…)
Boiler Piping Flow Pipe Sizing - Copper and Steel Pipe Flow Rates and Characteristics of Piping in Hot Water Boiler Loops
Hot water boiler pipe sizing is important and based on many factors including BTU and Delta (Δ) T Calculations.
