Hydronic systems
Chilled water, heating water, pumping and piping design for commercial buildings. 18 guides.
- Air and dirt separation in hydronic systems
Learn where air and dirt in hydronic systems come from, the equipment that removes them, and how location and pressure decide whether that equipment actually works.
- Chilled water system design fundamentals
A foundation guide to chilled water systems covering supply temperatures, delta T, flow arrangements, piping, coils and controls, with notes on Canadian practice.
- Condenser water systems and cooling towers
Learn how a condenser water system works, the design values that drive tower and pump selection, and the control and water management issues owners need to understand.
- Control valve selection and authority
Learn how valve authority, flow characteristics and proper sizing determine whether a coil controls smoothly, and how to choose between valve types for HVAC systems.
- Expansion tanks and system pressurization
Learn why closed hydronic systems need expansion control, how to size and locate expansion tanks, and how pressurization affects pumps, air removal and relief valves.
- Glycol systems: concentration, freeze protection and performance
Learn how glycol protects hydronic systems from freezing, how to pick the right type and concentration, and what glycol does to heat transfer, pumping and maintenance.
- Heating hot water system design
Learn how to design heating hot water systems for Canadian commercial buildings, including temperature selection, terminal units, pumping, piping and controls that support condensing boilers and heat pumps.
- Hydronic heat pump loops
Learn how a shared water loop lets heat pumps transfer heat around a building, how to keep the loop in its temperature band, and the design choices that affect efficiency.
- Hydronic piping sizing and velocity limits
Learn how to size hydronic piping using friction rates and velocity limits, why those limits exist, and how pipe material, glycol and noise sensitivity affect the choice.
- Low delta-T syndrome and how to fix it
Learn why chilled water plants often return water colder than designed, what that costs in pump and chiller capacity, and how to find and fix the root causes.
- Pressure-independent control valves: pros and cons
Learn how pressure-independent control valves (PICVs) hold flow steady as system pressure changes, when they are worth the extra cost, and the mistakes that undermine them.
- Primary-secondary vs variable primary flow
A clear comparison of primary-secondary and variable primary flow pumping, with how each handles chiller flow, bypass control and energy, and how to choose.
- Pump selection and system curves
Learn how pump curves and system curves interact, how to select an efficient, reliable pump for a hydronic system, and how variable speed and parallel pumping change the picture.
- Radiant heating and cooling systems
Learn how radiant systems deliver comfort through surfaces instead of air, where they fit in commercial buildings, and the design and control issues that decide whether they succeed.
- Snow melting system design
Learn how hydronic snow melting systems are sized and laid out, which heat sources and fluids suit Canadian winters, and how controls keep operating costs reasonable.
- Steam systems in older Canadian buildings
Learn how the steam systems in older Canadian buildings work, why they often heat unevenly and waste energy, and how to decide between restoring them and converting to hot water.
- Variable speed pumping and differential pressure setpoints
Learn how variable speed pumps track load, how sensor location and setpoint choice decide how much energy they save, and how to reset setpoints using valve position.
- Water treatment for closed and open loops
Learn how water treatment protects hydronic and condenser systems from corrosion, scale and biological growth, and what a sound treatment and testing program looks like.