Every building that has consistent usage by occupants should have a domestic water line. Whether this line is used for sinks, toilets, or water hoses, there needs to be a way for the water to be heated. While this brings the need for a heater, it also brings a need for products to temper that hot water to a usable temperature. Both engineers and installers want the system to perform to the best of its ability. This article will highlight a few basic concepts that help ensure the domestic hot water system design intent is met.
- MIXING VALVES: The commercial market dictates the need for mixing valves. Every domestic hot water system that has hot water supplied to fixtures over roughly 110 degrees will need to be mixed with cold water to make it bearable for an occupant. A thermostatic mixing valve is essentially a high/low valve that delivers tempered water to the fixtures in the plumbing system. An Acorn Control MV series valve would do just this. Sizing will be dependent on engineer’s design parameters so always let your local HTS rep size the mixing valve per the engineer’s schedule/specifications.
- ZONE VALVES: Sometimes a block of rooms need to be grouped together for temperature/heat load requirements. In the domestic hot water design, a thermostatic zone valve is the most efficient way to ensure proper water temperatures to that zone. For example, Acorn Control’s TZV series of mixing valves are thermostatically controlled zone balancing valves. Essentially, they will maintain the domestic hot water loop or “zone” temperature. These valves interact with the recirculation pumps to adjust the flow based on the demand from their units in their specific zone. These valves tend to be more precise when regulating zone temperatures than your standard flow dependent valves. By utilizing this zone regulation design, buildings such as hotels or dorms can more accurately maintain a loop temperature and communicate with the recirculation system more efficiently.
- COMMAND STATION: As human beings what is our number one priority? The answer to that question is almost always convenience. (Some might say food, water, and air unless you’re in the hydronic industry). With what’s known as a command station, the recirculation and tempering system are all combined in one self-contained station. The MV we discussed earlier is prefabricated and piped into a uni-strut frame. Along with the MV a Taco circulator pump can be piped straight into this system from the factory or field All ball valves are included in this station for ease of access to each component. When less work needs to be done in the field, you eliminate any potential piping errors, missed connections, and missing components. Give your local HTS rep a call and they’d love to discuss how an Acorn command station can save you time and money!
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