Feature
An air and dirt separator gives added protection to the system
Maintaining efficient
operation A system that is harbouring a build up of corrosion and sludge will have to work harder to distribute the water and heat. Blockages and sludge will impact the water flow, resulting in certain mechanical components having to work harder as they are fighting against the obstruction. Increased operation of components such as the heating system pump will result in higher energy consumption and mean they are likely to perish at a faster rate and could need servicing or replacing sooner than expected, causing an unplanned maintenance cost that will have to be met.
With ever increasing energy bills, it is essential to avoid overpaying for your gas and electric. Just a 1mm layer of limescale build up on the heat exchanger can reduce the efficiency by 7.5%. Before the heat can even reach the water it has to pass through this layer of scale so more fuel is used, due to the reduced heat exchanger conductivity, and the heating circuit will take longer to reach the required temperature. These issues are not evident in every system and the degree of their effect on the plant in the system varies;
some constituents in the water can even be beneficial. Hard water areas, for example, present different challenges to soft water areas and consideration should always be given to the age and condition of the system. Even new systems require a level of treatment to clean the heating circuit and clear any contaminants that may have appeared as a result of the product manufacture or installation, including flux residues, greases, debris, swarf and minerals that need removing prior to the corrosion inhibitor being added. There is no one-method-suits-all solution to water treatment. We often hear the myth that stainless steel boilers don’t require water treatment as the metal is more resistant to corrosion. This is not the case. Stainless steel corrodes but at a different rate and pH level to other materials. Plus, the element chloride is extremely detrimental to stainless steel in particular.
System cleaning, flushing
and water treatment Water treatment should be carried out as standard at any initial system set up and must be tailored to the type of boiler, materials used to construct the system (pipework, storage tanks etc), age of the
system and supply of the water. Before installing boilers and heating equipment, systems must be flushed thoroughly, first with clean water and then with a chemical cleaning solution, to clear any debris and ensure system cleanliness, prior to filling with an inhibitor to protect the system in the longer term. Despite taking the correct measures to clean and protect a system with an inhibitor you cannot guarantee that all detrimental dirt accumulations will be removed. This is where the addition of an air and dirt separator can offer added assurance. Providing a dual function, they collect and remove dissolved gases from system water through an automatic air vent as well as trap dirt particles that can be removed periodically through a flushing valve.
With an older system it may be advantageous to totally separate the boilers from the secondary circuits by using a plate heat exchanger. This method of connection prevents system debris and contaminates entering the boiler. This is not a replacement for water treatment, as the system will still need to be flushed and protected by an inhibitor, but it does help to safeguard the boiler plant from the effects of debris and harmful compounds found in existing systems.
Prevention is better
than cure As well as being a condition of most manufacturers’ warranty, tailored water treatment can ultimately prolong the life of your boiler, maintain optimum efficiency of your heating system and reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and unexpected repair costs. It is an ongoing regime that does not stop once the boilers have been installed and, as boilers become even more sophisticated, so do the supporting ancillaries to ensure the system is clean and protected to maximise efficiency.
www.hamworthy-heating.com
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