Hydraulic balancing strategies: A case study of radiator-based central heating system

With energy efficiency regulations coming into force, the retrofitting of existing plants has become mandatory in many European countries. The application of thermostatic radiator valves is a cheap, effective solution in case of radiator-based hydronic plants, but it requires the distribution system to be re-engineered and, in some situations, further adjusting devices to be added. In this paper, the behaviour of a vertical distribution heating system has been simulated with the aim of analysing the outcome of different hydraulic balancing strategies and proposing a method to identify the most suitable option. The common problem of noisy valves has been examined and the cost impact of the different solutions has also been considered.