HOT WATER SUPPLY
AND DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM
Nadeesha Igala Vithana
Hot water supply and distribution systems
• Water heaters are used to raise the temperature of cold water
coming in from the state water system
• Hot water systems can be energized by using electricity, gas
or solar power
• Hot water systems are used in,
• Homes
• Residential buildings
• Hotels
• Hospital
• Hotels and hospital use large quantities of hot water
Hot water supply and distribution systems
• Human body temperature is around 38 Celsius
• Optimum temperature for washing and bathing is 1-3
Celsius higher than the body temperature
• The microbes are killed at temperature above 55 Celsius
• Hot water can be stored at higher temperature and
reduced to lower supply temperature by mixing in cold
water in blender valves
Hot water supply and distribution systems
• Localized systems
• Instantaneous water heaters
• Storage tank water heaters
• Centralized system
Hot water supply and distribution systems
Zoning
• Hot water piping system may be divided into separate
heating zones to permit more detailed control
• These different heating zones can be accomplished by
using zoning valves
Localized system – instantaneous water heaters
• Has either a electric element or a gas burner
• Heats flowing water
• Does not have a storage tank, heats water only when it is
needed
• Cold water passes through a heat exchanger and get
heated
Localized system – instantaneous water heaters
Localized system – storage tank water heater
• Stores heated in a tank, either by an electric heater or a
gas heater
• Thus, a quantity of hot water is stored and available
• When a tap is turned on, hot water flows from the tank
and cold water flows into the tank to replace it
Localized system – storage tank water heater
• Either electric elements or a gas burner can be used
• Electric immersion heater is used are inserted into the
water
• The temperature is controlled by a thermostat
• Thermostat turns on the electric element or the gas burner to
maintain temperature
• Water rises, when it is heated and drawn off from the top
of the vessel to supply to various draw-off-points (taps)
• Cold water is supplied low down in the vessel, thus
preventing unnecessary cooling of the previously heated
water
Hot water supply heaters
Electric water heaters
• In electric storage water heaters, there is a electric
immersion heater within insulated copper storage cylinder
• When the designed temperature is achieved, sensed by
the thermostat, the element is switched off
• The electric heating element converts all of the electricity
into heat
• Since, the element is immersed, all of the heat is
transferred to the water
Hot water supply heaters
Gas water heaters
• Uses continuous pilot flame to ignite gas flowing through
the burner, which heats the water as it passes through the
heat exchanger
In class activity
• Compare and contrast tanked and tank less system
• Identify advantages and disadvantages of each system
• Identify facilities, which each system can be used
Centralized system
• Heated and stored water centrally within the building
• Supply water through a system of pipework to various
draw-off points
• Centralized system consists of,
• Water heater
• Hot water storage cylinder
• Draw-off points
• Supply and circulatory pipework
Centralized system – vented system
• There is a cold water storage tank, which supplies water
to the hot water cylinder heater
• The cold water is heated directly from the immersion
heater within the hot water cylinder or indirectly from the
central heating boilers
• Cold water tank also works as an expansion tank to
accommodate the expansion of hot water
Centralized system – vented system
Centralized system – unvented system
• This system does not have a storage tank
• Water is directly fed from the cold water mains
• Cold water from the mains is delivered to the base of the
cylinder, the water is heated, then when a tap or shower is
turned on the mains water pressure pushes the hot water
out.
• To allow the water that is heated in the cylinder to expand
as it is heated, an expansion vessel is used and the
system includes a pressure relief valve.
Centralized system – unvented system
In class activity
• Compare and contrast localized and central system
• Identify advantages and disadvantages of each system
• Identify facilities, which each system can be used
Boilers
• A boiler is an enclosed vessel that provides a means for
combustion and transfers heat to water until it becomes
hot water or steam
• The hot water or steam under pressure is then usable for
transferring the heat to a process
Boiler systems
• Fire tube boilers
• Water tube boilers
Fire tube boilers
• Contains long steel tubes, through which the hot gases
from furnace passes
• Around the steel tubes, there is water to be converted to
steam circulation
Fire tube boilers
Water tube boilers
• Water and steam flow inside the tubes and the hot gases
flow over the outside surface
• Water tube boilers have high pressure and capacity than
fire tube boilers
Water tube boilers
In class activity
• Design a hot water supply and distribution system for the
following facility
• Apartment complex
• Hotel
• Hospital
• Dry cleaner
• Home
