Hydraulic balancing strategies: A case study of radiator-based central heating system

Abstract

With energy efficiency regulations coming into force, the retrofitting of existing plants has become mandatory in many European countries. The application of thermostatic radiator valves is a cheap, effective solution in case of radiator-based hydronic plants, but it requires the distribution system to be re-engineered and, in some situations, further adjusting devices to be added. In this paper, the behaviour of a vertical distribution heating system has been simulated with the aim of analysing the outcome of different hydraulic balancing strategies and proposing a method to identify the most suitable option. The common problem of noisy valves has been examined and the cost impact of the different solutions has also been considered. Practical application: This paper applies simple calculation tools to explore the impact of different balancing solutions to a real building, using an approach that could valuably assist the practitioner in the decision process.