Fluid control
www.heatingandventilating.net
Commissioning engineers are here to stay
Surely, self-balancing valves and automatic balancing valves means there is there still a need for a commissioning engineer? Here, Tony Anderson, technical manager at the Commissioning Specialists’ Association’s explains why the commissioning engineer’s role is in fact more important than ever
C
ommissioning a system that contains ‘automated valves’ should be quick and pain free for the commissioning engineer,
according to most of the sales literature. However, as most commissioning engineers know this is rarely the case. Over the last 20 years ‘automated valves’ have become the front runners in the commissioning valve market. CFRs, DPCVs, PICVs and EPICV/EPIVs (see the explanation below) are just a few of the types available, each having their own sophisticated characteristics that can offer huge benefits in hydraulic applications. When installed, using variable-flow pumps with a suitable system flow strategy, ‘automated valves’ can maximise flow efficiency, greatly reduce operational
24 August 2023
Left: Tony Anderson, technical manager at the Commissioning Specialists’ Association
From the off, it’s worth noting the terms ‘automated’ and ‘self-balancing’ as used in sales brochures largely refer to how the valves operate and control water flow after they have been set-up and commissioned. As a specialised component, one of the key
costs and offer enormous energy savings to end users compared with a traditional fixed-flow system. This translates into significant benefits over the operational life-span of the system.
challenges with automated valves is getting the system to a commissioned state that allows the valves to perform as per the design intent. Designers should use caution when assigning the pumping strategy around automated valves to ensure that the entire system is maintainable and lends itself to being flushed correctly. There are numerous examples where ‘temporary’ by-pass loops had to be installed retrospectively around the automated valve
DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW
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
