Oventrop valves give first-class degree of control for new building at University of Manchester
Contributing to low energy consumption of this new building at the University of Manchester are Oventrop valves in the heating and DHW systems.
To help create a low-energy building for the humanities faculty at the University of Manchester, Oventrop’s Aquastrom T Plus valves are used in three independent DHW systems. Other Oventrop valves include general and commissioning valves and 350 TRV/lockshield combinations. The valves were specified by DSSR’s Manchester office and installed by NG Bailey. This new £20 million 5-storey building provides 10 000 m2 of accommodation for the schools of social sciences and environmental sciences. Natural ventilation predominates, with comfort heating/cooling in internal areas as required. Laboratories occupy 10% of the building, and there are over 350 offices for teaching and post-graduate staff. Steam is the primary heat source and is converted in the ground-floor plant room using plate heat exchangers to serve three heating circuits. Two variable-temperature circuits serve the building, one on the east side and one on the west. Main entrance areas have underfloor heating. A constant-temperature circuit serves air-handling units and hot-water services via calorifiers in three roof-top plant rooms. Oventrop valves are used throughout. The reverse-return radiator heating circuits have variable-speed pumps controlled by differential -pressure sensors. Aquastrom T Plus is a multi-function regulating valve for DHW circuits. As well as simplifying commissioning, it provides significant energy savings by controlling temperature and flow. Valves are preset in the factory and control the temperature in the DHW return. Once the system is up to temperature, the valves throttle down to a residual minimum flow to limit heat loss and reduce the energy required to raise the return water back to flow temperature. As soon as water in the return cools to a preset temperature, usually 57°C, the valve allows more flow to eliminate cool dead legs and the risk of legionella bacteria growing. Aquastrom T Plus valves also provide hydronic balancing of the distribution system for domestic hot water and enable automatic system pasteurisation by raising the temperature of the generator of hot water or the stored water temperature to above 70°C. The valve always provides a residual flow rate to maintain continuous circulation.
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