PHAM NEWS | JUNE 2024 Water& System Treatment 35
Getting air out of the system
SpiroCross AX-J is a hydraulic separator for use in systems where primary and secondary pumps are used
Mini vacuum degasser On air-to-water heat pump systems, a small degassing unit will be a better solution than a deaerator, as this type of unit is better suited for low temperature and low pressure systems, where it is hard to predict where air will be released. A mini vacuum degasser, such
as the SpiroVent Superior S250, creates its own environment to release gases from the fl uid, meaning it is not dependent on a specifi c location in the system; no matter where it is installed or the fl ow temperature of water within the system, it will remove air. The unit works by drawing off
a portion of the saturated fl uid in the system, then creating an ‘under pressure’ in the vacuum vessel of the unit that causes dissolved gases to be released. These liberated gases accumulate at the top and can then be expelled. Additionally, vacuum
Regardless of the type of heating system you’re working on, removing air from the system is crucial to ensure its ongoing performance and health. Here, Pete Chamberlain from Spirotech looks at the diff erent solutions available for air removal and which types of system they should be used for.
microbubbles and dissolved gasses. If left untreated, microbubbles will eventually be reabsorbed into the system water, where the oxygen will react with any ferrous internal surfaces and gradually corrode the system. This can lead to a number of potential issues, from simple annoyances such as noisy pipework and radiator cold spots, the need for frequent maintenance, or regularly needing to bleed the radiators, and in the worst-case scenario premature parts failure within the boiler. For the best results, it is
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important that installers are specifying air removal to their customers for any wet heating system. However, with various solutions available, it is important to understand the diff erence between them, the benefi ts that each off er, and which type of system they best suit.
Ongoing protection When it comes to domestic gas systems, installers should look to recommend some form of deaerator to off er ongoing protection against the presence
ir can be present in a heating system in a number of diff erent ways, from free air to
of air. While an automatic air vent (AAV) is very useful for the ongoing release of free air, they are not suitable for removing microbubbles which, due to their small size, have a hard surface tension and cannot join to form a larger bubble that can be released by the AAV. This is where a deaerator,
Pete Chamberlain Area sales manager at Spirotech
such as the SpiroVent RV2, comes into play, to eff ectively and continuously remove microbubbles from a heating system. Utilising specialist tube technology, a Spirotech deaerator fi tted on the fl ow pipe, at the point in the system with the highest temperature
and lowest pressure, will create the right conditions for microbubbles to rise upwards out of the water, before being released by an automatic valve at the top of the unit. For the very best results, a deaerator should always be fi tted alongside a dirt separator to off er maximum system protection. With the right water treatment
solutions, homeowners can expect to see effi ciency improvements that will help to off set ever-increasing energy bills. For example, when installed together, the SpiroVent RV2 and SpiroTrap MB3 help to improve effi ciency by up to 13%.
degassers can be particularly helpful in buildings where there are multiple storeys and installers are questioning whether to fi t a deaerator like the SpiroVent RV2 at the hottest point of the system – on the return close to the boiler – or at the top of the system where gases naturally rise to.
Multi-zone systems When working on larger domestic and light commercial systems, heating engineers are more likely to be dealing with multiple zones. In these instances, a hydraulic separator may be required to ensure the circuits do not interfere with each other and cause system ineffi ciencies. A hydraulic separator such as
The SpiroVent
Superior S250 is a mini vacuum degasser that creates its own environment to release gasses from the fl uid and is not
dependant on a specifi c location in the system
the SpiroCross AX-J should be considered in systems where primary and secondary pumps are used, when primary and secondary fl ows are not equal, or when a constant primary fl ow is required. A well- designed hydraulic separator will not only perform hydraulic balancing, but will also have both deaeration and dirt separation capabilities too. By making themselves
familiar with these various technologies and in which situations they should be used, heating engineers will be in a prime position to deliver their customers a well-protected system that will stand the test of time.
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