Tutorial: HYDRONIC SYSTEMS (2)

1. Give an account of the factors to be considered in the selection of a suitable type of water
system.

2. Explain why less balancing work is required for reverse-return chilled water system when
compared with a direct-return system.

3. Define the term “Change over” for a two-pipe dual temperature system.

4. Discuss the function of the decoupler in an automatic staging variable flow system.

5. A decoupler system employs three constant flow chillers, three constant speed production
pumps matching with each chiller and two distributing pumps, one of which is a stand-by
pump. Table 1 lists the characteristics of each production pump and secondary pump
respectively.

Table 1

Volume flow rate, l/s 5 10 15 20 25

Production pump:
total pressure rise, kPa 78 75 69 58 24

Volume flow rate, l/s 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Distribution pump:
total pressure rise, kPa 112 111 109 106 102 96 87

power input, kW 2.48 3.57 4.39 5.23 5.98 6.79 7.23

Given:
(1) Flow resistance for the production loop of each chiller circuit at design flow
= 0.1375 kPa/(l/s)2
(2) Flow resistance for the distribution loop at design flow = 0.02555 kPa/(l/s)2

Determine:
(i) the operating conditions in the production loop and the distribution loop at the
design volume flow rate. (61 l/s, 57 kPa; 61 l/s, 94.5 kPa)

(ii) the operating conditions at a volume flow of 50 % of the design volume flow in
the distribution loop. Determine also the efficiency of the distribution pump under
these operating conditions. (30.5 l/s, 109.5 kPa; 75.4%)