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“
Green
Hot Water
”
Distribution In light of modern fixtures and
appliances, we need to measure the
Systems performance and hot water demand in
various applications to better understand
the level of performance needed.
By Gary Klein
W
hat defines a “green” The most efficient hot water distribu- perature drop over a given distance at a
hot water distribu- tion system would contain the smallest given flow rate and pipe diameter) and
tion system? Ideally, amount of piping materials. To achieve cool down phases (more time between
such a system would this would mean that the architectur- hot water events before the pipe cools
minimize the waste al design of the building would ensure down, particularly useful if there are clus-
of water, energy and time during all three that the hot water locations are stacked tered draws) of the hot water events.
phases of all hot water events in a giv- and back-to-back, and that the source However, I wonder how frequently
en application. In addition, there would of hot water is located close to all fix- we encounter this idealistic layout. We
be an energy-efficient water heater or tures and appliances. In principle, this rarely see it in houses. Sometimes we see
boiler, sized to the application, to make should reduce the number of feet of pipe it in small multi-family or commercial
the needed hot water. between the water heater (or boiler) and buildings with a central plumbing core.
Figure 1 (see page 18) depicts a the fixtures. It is rarely the case in larger buildings, but
hot water event. There is a delivery Assuming that the diameters of the those are the ones we are asked to engi-
phase, a use phase and a cool down pipe between the water heater and fix- neer the plumbing.
phase. We want the delivery phase to tures are selected properly, this would Recently, I looked at the plans for a
be short, the use phase to be whatever also minimize the volume of water in the 4-story addition to a building on a col-
is needed to do the intended job and, pipe. All hot water fixtures and appliances lege campus that was aiming for LEED
once we turn off the tap, the tempera- would be located very close to the water Platinum. There was reasonable, but not
ture of the water in the pipes to cool heater or boiler. In virtually all cases, the perfect, stacking and back-to-backing
down (unless we have done something hot water piping will be insulated. of the restrooms. There was only one
special to prevent this, such as recircu- At a minimum, this improves the per- location away from the main restroom
lation or electrical heat trace). formance during both the use (less tem- groupings that had a significant demand
Figure 3. Acceptable Wait Times Compared to Flow Rate and Pipe Diameter
temperature of between 3 and 10 degrees The problem is that large volume ture needs to be reduced, or some combi-
F. Built-in safety mechanisms limit both runouts mean that large amounts of nation of both.
the temperature in the return line and water, energy and time are wasted waiting The performance of recirculation sys-
pump run time. for hot water to arrive. In addition, dur- tems depends on (1) the method used to
For a given layout of hot water loca- ing the use phase, for a given flow rate, keep the temperature in the trunk line
tions, any one of these systems can be the temperature of the water in large- acceptable for use and (2) the volume of
installed so as to optimize both the vol- diameter piping drops more quickly over the water in the twigs. In order to keep
ume (length and diameter) of the recir- a given distance. the time-to-tap acceptable at low flow
culation loop and the volume (length Finally, during the cool down phase, rates, the supply portion of the recircu-
and diameter) of water in the pipe from while the temperature of the water in the lation loop (trunk) needs to be located
the recirculation loop to the fixtures or runout drops relatively slowly due to the close to all fixtures.
appliances. large diameter, once it has dropped below This concept for optimizing hot water
Once the supply portion of the recir- a useful hot water temperature, a relative- distribution system design is called Struc-
culation loop is filled with hot water, the ly large amount of heat has been lost. tured Plumbing®. A Structured Plumbing
waste of water, energy and time while American Society of Plumbing Engi- layout locates the trunk line such that the
waiting for hot water to arrive at a fixture neers' (ASPE) members will be familiar twig line contains no more than 2 cups of
or appliance is determined by the volume with the 100-foot compromise on the water (roughly 10 feet of 0.5 inch diam-
of not-hot water in the piping between distance between a water heater and the eter piping) between the trunk line and
the recirculation loop and the fixture. fixtures before a recirculation system each fixture or appliance. All hot water
I have noticed that at least one state’s should be installed that was developed by lines are insulated and the recirculation
health and safety code (that of Califor- the industry in the 1970s. (This amount is loop is demand-controlled. (Copies of
nia), states that: When fixtures are located longer than the rule in California’s health the Structured Plumbing Guidelines are
more than 60 feet from the water heater, and safety code.) available on request from the author.)
a recirculation pump must be installed The dilemma is that minimal wait Electrical Heat Trace Systems. Electri-
in order to ensure that hot water reaches times are expected at all flow rates (see cal heat trace systems are still another way
the fixtures at a temperature of at least Figure 3) and there are no acceptable to improve the performance of hot water
120°F. Wouldn’t hot water get to the fix- times for the delivery of hot water for a distribution systems. Modern heat trace
ture eventually? Does this allow for 59.9- flow rate of 0.5 gpm and any of the nomi- systems use self-regulating cable attached
ft.-long runouts from the recirculation nal pipe diameters in the table. This flow to the pipe and completely surrounded
loop to the fixtures? What is the allowable rate is typical of faucets in commercial by insulation (See Figure 4 on page 22).
diameter of the runouts? facilities, and, in fact, is likely to be even Controls can be centralized, and elec-
As to the first question, it would only lower for the portion of the draw that tronic controls can be used for additional
get there if there was a relatively long hot comes from the water heater due to mix- energy savings by adjusting the main-
water draw, from, say, taking a shower ing that occurs at the faucet. tained temperature in accordance with
or filling a tub. Short, intermittent sink For convenience, I will call the pipe the operating schedule and the demand
draws at faucets drawing 0.5 gpm might serving one fixture a twig. (A branch line for hot water.
take many hours before hot water will get serves two or more fixtures or appliances, It is also possible to adjust the temper-
to the fixture. This is something we have and a trunk serves many.) In order to ature upwards for sanitizing cycles during
experienced in conference hotels. As to bring the delivery time of hot water into off-peak periods. Electrical heat trace sys-
the second and third questions, the rule the range of acceptable performance at tems do not need return lines, drastically
does allow for 59.9-ft-long runouts, and it low-flow rate draws, either the diameter reducing the heat loss of the hot water
does not specify the diameter. or the length of the twig serving one fix- distribution system.
➞
20 PMEngineer July 2008
“Green” Hot Water Distribution Systems