BSEE-NOV21-PG32.qxp_Layout 1 25/10/2021 11:24 Page 32
BSEE
FOCUS: MEDICAL & HEALTHCARE
Thermal balancing valves ensure hot water balancing at hospital site
In a hospital,
complying with the temperatures required in a hot water system is crucial in order to keep Legionella at bay. To help Huddersfield Royal Infirmary with balancing its direct hot water system and maintaining it at the required temperature, Resideo Braukmann Kombi 4 thermal
balancing and throttle valves have been specified and installed.
balancing for the system. The valve is compact, only requires a temperature to be set, and is easily installed using DN15 – DN40 internal or external threads.
experiencing many non- compliant temperatures across the property’s large, old and complex direct hot water primary and secondary system.
T
The Huddersfield Royal Infirmary in Lindley was originally built in 1965. Over the years, various changes had been made to the building, including the addition of more wards. The resulting extensions to the hot water pipework meant that it was becoming increasingly challenging to hydronically balance the system and maintain the required temperatures in every circuit. Clifford Cooper & Sons in Elland installed the valves. Since their installation, the distributed hot water circuits in the hospital can now maintain a set temperature at return points. When the water temperature drops below the set point, the built-in thermal actuator opens the valve to allow water to flow and therefore re- heat. Thereafter, when the set point is reached, the valve starts to close to a trickle flow, to keep the system topped up with hot water. For shorter circuit runs, the Kombi-4 throttle valve is used to provide traditional static
he valves were selected by Services Design Partnership consulting engineers after the hospital’s estates engineers were
In addition to continuously balancing the system, engineers at CHS can use automatic thermal balancing capability of the Kombi 4 valve. Instead of manually adjusting the temperature settings on each valve before and after thermal disinfection, the valves automatically open further when water over 70°C is flushed through the system for thermal disinfection. This ensures that the hot water is rapidly distributed in all risers and pipelines, whilst critically maintaining the system balance. The valves return automatically to their usual control state when the water temperature falls to the normal setting. Mick Taylor, senior estates officer for Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions, which manages the hospital’s estates and facilities, commented: “After the installation of the Kombi-4 thermal valves, we have not only seen significant improvements with constant compliant temperatures across site, but above all in the control of water borne bacteria such as Legionella.”
Antimicrobial switches?
them making this technology well suited to medical technology, sanitation areas, and the food service industry.
S
Antimicrobial refers to the ability to eliminate microbes. Microbes or microorganisms include bacteria, many fungi and spores, microscopic algae and protozoa. Viruses are also usually included, although these are not living organisms in the true sense of the word (they have no metabolism of their own).
According to Schurter Group’s white paper “Antimicrobial substances inhibit the growth of microorganisms or even kill them. This approach is not new, and consequently various solutions coexist on the market.
“All disinfectants, for example, are classified as
antimicrobial substances. However, there are also high-tech surface structures that have an antimicrobial effect through the disinfecting action of silver and copper.”
witches that disinfect themselves. It may sound too good to be true by according to the Schurter Group, antimicrobial coatings inhibit the growth of
microorganisms and even kill
A large number of infectious diseases are transmitted via contaminated surfaces – a smear infection. But antimicrobial coatings, varnishes and paints can be applied to countless surfaces making them suitable for facilities where the highest standards of hygiene are required. “Depending on the particular pathogen, microorganisms can remain active for up to 16 months: on the door handle, in public transport, on the computer keyboard or at the automatic pay station,” the white paper says. In cooperation with a German company that manufactures paints and varnishes for highly specialised applications, Schurter put the product to the test.
The effect of a coating on switches was tested with very convincing results. As switches are one of the most common interfaces between man and machine, the company is now offering this upgrade with its completely sealed switches (piezoelectric, capacitive or ToF).
32 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2021
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
