Ensuring hygiene safety and comfort in hot drinking water in an energy efficient way!
A circulation system is always required when pipework contents exceed 3 litres in at least one flow path of a hot water system. The circulation volume flow must be able to transport the quantity of heat that is “lost” through the surface of the pipework. At the same time, the temperature must not fall below 55°C in any part of the hot water system (PWH and PWH-C). In systems with more than one circulation circuit, this requires hydraulic balancing. Static or automatic circulation balancing valves can be used for this purpose.
The temperature of the circulating hot water must be kept at ≥ 55°C throughout. The water content of a hot water installation, which cannot be held at this temperature must be minimised in order to prevent the growth of Legionella.
Source: M. Exner, Hygiene in Drinking Water Installations – Experience in Germany, expert discussion on Legionella, UBA/BfR [Federal Environment Agency/Federal Institute of Risk Assessment on 20.10.2009, Berlin
In systems with circulation to the tapping point, special attention must be paid to thermal separation in bathrooms as unwanted heat transfer from the hot water to the mixing tap and the connected cold water may occur.
As well as the insulation that is in place, the pipework routing has a decisive influence on the effective heat loads and therefore also on the maintenance of drinking water quality of the cold drinking water (PWC). Using simple optimisation possibilities, which can already be taken into consideration during the design stage, it is possible to significantly reduce the heat transfer from hot drinking water (PWH) to cold drinking water (PWC). The following pre-wall illustrations show typical sources of error and associated possibilities for improvement and optimised pipework routing with thermally separated valve connection.
Heat transfers at the tapping fittings can be significantly reduced by thermal separation. The difference between connecting with a standard double drop ear elbow and a thermal separation component can be seen clearly in a thermographic image.
Left: Mixing tap connected via thermal separator (temperature < 25° C).
Right: Mixing valve connected via double wall discs. (temperature > 60° C)