Smart savings with water-side balancing

Purchasing a heat pump or connecting to district or block heating does not guarantee a sustainable heating system. To minimize energy consumption, gas consumption and CO2 emissions and raise indoor climate comfort to the highest level, the complete heating system must be balanced. Proper water-side control is essential for this, believes Mauro Manfredi, Managing Director of Caleffi. "By controlling the system hydraulically, as much as 15-20% can be saved on energy and gas consumption in most buildings."

Caleffi has been the expert in hydraulic balancing, balancing and treatment of heating systems and drinking water installations for many years. With a view to the revised EPBD regulation (EPBD III) and in the run-up to 2026 - the year when more efficient heating installations will become the norm - Caleffi puts high emphasis on raising awareness. Both among installers and building owners, so that the importance of hydraulic balancing is (even) more widely supported. "The revised EPBD regulation requires that, among other things, heating systems in homes and utility buildings must be hydraulically balanced (water-side control)," Manfredi explains. "In the Netherlands, this regulation has already been translated into the NTA8800 determination method. By formulating requirements, for example, for the balancing, intelligent control and readjustment of heating systems, the European Commission wants to stimulate improved energy performance for buildings. The EPBD III is mandatory for all buildings in which heat generators are replaced or in which at least one third of the delivery systems (mostly radiators) are installed, replaced or remodeled."

Proper volume flows

By regulating installations water-wise, installers ensure that water flows through radiators, underfloor heating and convectors at the correct flow rates (volumes) and velocities and therefore has sufficient time to release heat. "This not only reduces energy bills, but also ensures evenly heated rooms," Manfredi says. "In addition, ticking pipes are overcome." If the heat source is a central heating system or hybrid heat pump, substantial savings can be made in gas consumption and CO2 emissions. "With this, installers as well as building owners make an important contribution to combating the greenhouse effect."

Dynamic control valves

To regulate systems on the water side, installers basically have a choice of three methods: regulation using radiator valves or foot valves, regulation using static control valves or regulation using dynamic control valves. Manfredi strongly advocates the latter method, where installations are fitted with dynamic control valves because of partial load situations. "Thanks to control valves, the amount of water flowing through the heating system can be set very precisely, regardless of the pressure in the system."

Support and relief in design and products

"Dynamic control valves automatically anticipate the changing heating demand in a building," Manfredi emphasizes. "As a result, no more energy and gas is ever consumed than is strictly necessary." To make this possible, careful system design is essential. Caleffi can support this perfectly. For example, with the Caleffi Hydronic Design Software, in which installers can design, calculate and optimize their heating systems. "The dynamic control valves are then produced piece by piece and precisely tailored and functionally tested. This ensures proper operation. Installers have nothing else to worry about."

Extensive range of solutions

Leading the Caleffi hydraulic control program is the AUTOFLOW®; a series of compact automatic flow controllers that ensure a constant flow rate under changing operating conditions. "Also of interest is our FLOWMATIC® series, which allows even more precise adjustment." Whereas the AUTOFLOW® is ordered and delivered on demand according to the precise flow rate, with the FLOWMATIC® a maximum flow rate can be set which can be further refined afterwards and with the help of the adjustment knob. "In addition, the flow rate can also be fine-tuned with a control motor so that each room is optimally adjusted." Especially for private homes and renovations, Caleffi developed the DYNAMICAL® dynamic radiator valve, which combines a thermostatic valve, balancing valve and differential pressure controller. "An ideal solution in renovation projects where the delivery systems still consist mainly of radiators and where a total system renovation is not an issue. Each situation and each system requires a customized solution to obtain the best result. Caleffi can support this from A to Z."