Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

1. Introduction
The cities are moving towards High Rise Buildings. This has imposed challenges for designers.
Hydraulics in High Rise buildings deals with Water. Unlike Air, water is heavy and a vertical column
of water contained in various pipelines of the buildings imposes pressures at the lower levels. This
pressure becomes such a culprit that designers need to find ways to deal with it. In the subsequent
sections we will discuss some key challenges faced in Hydraulics of a high rise building that need
attention and how can they be addressed.
2. Chilled Water Circuit
The equipment employed in Chilled Water circuits has limitation in handling pressures beyond a
certain limit. Higher pressure rating of Chilled water System would also mean increase in the cost of
components. Therefore a thorough attention by owner on the various options to limit the pressures
in the circuit is essential. Lower operating pressures also allow increased operating life of the
component.
2.1. Point of No Pressure change
A Chilled Water Circuit is a closed loop Circuit and the location of Expansion tank defines the
point of no pressure change. Pressures elsewhere in circuit can be calculated from this
reference point by adjusting for the pressure variations due to elevation difference, Friction
losses and Pump Gain. It is well known that locating expansion tank at the highest level in the
Circuit helps to reduce the expansion tank sizing but in a high rise building it is noteworthy that
locating Expansion Tank at the highest level could reduce the pressure experienced at the
lowest level by an amount equivalent to the pressure drop in the Return piping starting from
the topmost level. Even though the pressure saving could only be small but this can become the
first step to counter pressure.

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

2.2. Location of Pumps

It is a convention that Pumps are placed upstream of the Chillers. This means Chillers (when
placed in bottom of the circuit) experience highest pressure in chilled water circuit. Variable
Primary flow system where the Primary pump heads are substantial the pressure exerted on
the chillers also increase substantially. Since Chillers are most critical and costly equipment in
circuit therefore limiting pressures on it should make a lot of sense. It is absolutely possible to
place the primary pumps downstream of Chillers. This allows the pressure on the chiller to
further reduced by an amount equivalent to primary pump head. In Variable Primary where the
Primary pump head could be as high as 5 bar this would mean a substantial reduction in
pressure on chillers.

Similarly Condenser Water Pumps and Heat Exchanger Pumps can be employed on downstream
of Condensers and Heat Exchangers respectively to limit pressures on them.
Having the complete plant room placed on upper floors can help reducing the pressures
experienced by the critical plant equipment but this is not always possible.
2.3. Zoning
Excess pressures because of very high heights need to be handled by breaking pressures using
Heat Exchangers. Heat Exchangers allow transfer of heat from one zone to other but pressure
of higher zones is isolated from the lower zones. Heat Exchangers also bring in the challenge of
temperature drop from low temperature zone to high temperature zone, additional pressure
drop on Heat Exchanger and controls for optimized and efficient heat transfer from one zone to
other.
In the two figures below for option1 & 2 the Valve controller senses temperature in Zone 1 and
modulates 2 way control Valve across Heat Exchanger to allow only as much water from pump
P2 as is required. As in any conventional secondary pumping system, P2 and P1 pumps can a be
made to operate on variable speed based on feedback Differential pressure sensors in Zone 2

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

and Zone 1 respectively. Either of Option 1 and 2 can be employed based on the total size of
the chilled water circuit, difference in hydraulic and load characteristics of AHUs in Zone 2 and
the Heat Exchanger.

In relatively larger capacity circuits a separate dedicated pumping system P3 to feed to the Heat
Exchanger could become viable (Option 3). In this case Pump P3 could operate on variable
speed directly based on the Temperature feedback from the Zone 1 and pressure drop in 2 way
valve across Heat Exchangers could be avoided. These pressure drops across 2 way Control
Valves could otherwise become substantially high to maintain the required valve authority.

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

2.4. Kind of Pump

Double Suction Pumps are considered much more robust to end suction Pumps. In high-rise
buildings that impose pressure challenges and flow rates are also expected to be higher
because of higher loads double suction pump should become a favored choice.

3. Fire Fighting
After 9/11 fire in Timesquare buildings, the codes have become extra vigilant on the Firefighting
requirements of High Rise Buildings. NFPA has included some specific minimum requirements on the
High Rise buildings. Given below are some of the requirements that have surfaced specifically for
high rise buildings.
3.1. Water Tank
For all the floors that are beyond the reach of fire departments the building should have water tank
of the fire protection capacity. Water tank should
be divided in two chambers with each having 50%
of more capacity so that when one chamber is
being serviced then building could draw water
from other chamber in the event of fire. Each Tank
chamber should have an auto fill of capacity equal
to the fire protection demand rate. This ensures
full redundancy in case one of the tank chambers
is under service.

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

3.2. Pumps
An auxiliary power supply to the electric motor of each fire pump is required. High Rise Buildings
may require pumps to generate excessive pressures and sometimes this may require pumps to
operate in series. The question is whether the pumps operating in series shall be on the same level
or should they be on different levels. Having pumps at different levels will ensure that the suction
pressure of pump in upper zone will be lesser. There are also some critical disadvantages on placing
the pumps at different levels. In case the pump at lower level fails to operate then the pump at
upper level will cavitate. The communication between people controlling the two stations in
emergency will be very difficult. It is recommended that three pumps can be put in series but all the
pumps shall be in a single room and access is required through external door or 2 hr fire rated
passage.

3.3. Pumps & Tanks

It is also required to be ensured that sufficient redundancy is built into the system ie water supply,
pumps and tanks, so that even if one of the component in the system is not in service the system is
still capable to ensure that the fire water requirements is met.

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

4. Water Distribution
4.1. Water Distribution
Water at fixtures should get a minimum pressure of 1.5 to 2 bar for the smooth flow. The higher
limit of the pressure on these fixtures is 5 bar. A standing height of around 30 m (ie 6 to 8 floors)
can add 3 bar static pressure to the lowest level. In a single zone 30m height wherein pumps
maintain a pressure of 2 bar at the highest floor, the pressure at the lowest level in the zone will be
5 bar. Therefore in a high rise building the zone needs to be formed after every 30m (or so) height.
Pressure reducing valves play an important role in High Rise Buildings. The flow to each 30m Zone
from the main riser passes through a pressure reducing valve so that pressure at the highest level in
the zone is limited to 2 bar.
Different kinds of pipes, fittings in the main risers have varying pressure sustaining capability. Based
on this capability a limit is imposed and the maximum height that can be covered by single riser. In
such a scenario it becomes necessary to break the pressures by putting intermediate break pressure
tanks.
To allow the air purge to happen the horizontal piping in each zone can be done on floor below the
topmost zone so that the air gets purged from the taps of the topmost floor.
4.2. Pressure Boosting One of the Multiple Pumps on VFD vs Dedicated VFD on each Pump
It is very common to use Pressure Boosters to boost the water from lower level to higher levels in a
high rise building. Conventionally constant speed pump boosters were used with large size of
pressure vessels but recently the trend has changed to energy efficient Variable speed pumping. It
has been a common practice to use Variable Speed Drive only on one of the multiple running
pumps. This approach has certain limitations and it is recommended for the reasons below that all
the pumps shall be on Variable Speed.
1. It is very common that engineers consider a 10 t0 15% safety factor while defining pump head
for the boosters. This ultimately would mean that a pump selected for 100 m will actually end

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

up working against a system head of say 85m only. Other mistakes in sizing could make this
difference even bigger. The pump on variable speed is able to adjust to the changes in the
pressure requirement however the pumps at constant speed cannot readjust and may end up
going beyond the pump curve. This could be detrimental for the pump.
2. Having a single VFD attached to one pump would mean that the pump will be required to run
all the time and the other pumps come on/off at full flow depending on the water requirement.
If the single pump is locked on to VFD then it can be under constant abuse therefore VFD needs
to actually toggle to other parallel pumps after a predefined period. Therefore controller needs
to build in it sophisticated controls to make this toggling happen. Moreover follower pumps
starting on constant speed generally through a DOL or a Star Delta starter can create pressure
jerks whenever they start. On the other hand the designer will be very convenient if all the
multiple pumps will have dedicated VFD.
3. When the booster set only contains a single VFD then designer also needs to check as to how
booster will run in case the VFD is under service. In such a scenario booster controller needs to
ensure that pumps will keep operating on constant speed. To ensure smooth operation the
designer needs to size the pressure vessel for constant speed application. This means that size
of pressure vessel will be required to be much higher. With each pump having a dedicated VFD
allows designer to consider minimal size of pressure vessel.
4. It is very common in chilled water application to use sensor at the farthest zone to ensure that
pump operates to satisfy the minimum pressure requirement at changing flow rates thereby
allowing energy saving. Reduced flow rates in the pipes mean that the pressure drop will reduce
in a square relationship. Pressure boosting is considered as a constant pressure application but
the fact is that at lower flows the friction losses are lesser and the pumps can actually operate at
lesser pressures still satisfying the system requirements. Such friction loss compensation is
possible if all the pumps are on VFD.

5. Hot Water Circulation

5.1. When users open hot water fixtures they instantaneously need hot water. In case hot water is
not available then they get inconvenienced and are forced to keep the tap open and waste
water till they start getting hot water. This is a typical problem when hot water is not
recirculated properly. In high rise buildings recirculation of hot water imposes bigger challenge.
Consider first figure without brazed plate heat exchanger and you will note that each zone has
got recirculation pump and each recirculation pump has a pressure reducing valve in the loop.

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

What this means is that the recirculation pump head of the pumps in the lower zones is much
higher (because of pressure drops imposed by pressure reducing valves). Pressure reducing
valves in high rise building are inevitable for the reasons discussed in previous sections. These
high head and very low flow pumps are often selected in inefficient zone and pose problems
related to hot water recirculation.

5.2. When Heat Exchangers are used in the recirculation circuit then Pressure reducing valves can
be avoided from the recirculation loop and single larger pump for bigger water recirculation
can be employed. For individual zones recirculation pumps of fractional horsepower can be
used.
6. Drainage Venting
6.1. Waste water drainage pipes are not only required to deal with water but also air that is
entrapped in it. When the water flows down in the pipes then air needs to fill the space that
water has left otherwise the pockets of vacuum create nuisance in the flow. Appropriate
venting becomes critical in such a scenario.
High rise buildings are most susceptible to problems associated with improper venting. It
becomes necessary that a vent stack is made to run parallel to the drainage pipes so that the
drainage pipes are suitably vented at right places. In case multiple fixtures are used close to

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

each other and proper venting is not in place then drainage from one fixture could tend to draw
water seal through the other nearby fixtures causing greater difficulties.

7. Conclusion
While increasing height of the buildings is imposing greater challenges for the designers but
increasing capabilities of designers and products is making it possible for us to reach greater heights.

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services

Mr.Satnam Singh, Head - Building Services, Xylem India

Mr. Satnam Singh is Head - Building Services for Xylem Water

Solutions India Private Limited.
Xylem was launched in 2011 from the spinoff of the water-related
businesses of ITT Corporation. Xylem (XYL) is the largest water
company listed on NYSE and has replaced ITT in Fortune 500
index. A leading global water leader enabling customers to
transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential/commercial building,
industrial and agricultural markets. The company does business in more than 150 countries
through a number of market-leading product brands, and its people bring broad applications
expertise with a strong focus on finding local solutions to the worlds most challenging water
and wastewater problems. Xylem is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with projected 2011
annual revenues of $3.8 billion with 12,500 employees worldwide.

Mr. Satnam Singh is BE Mechanical Engineer and has done his PGDBM in Marketing & Finance.
In his 15 years of experience in Industry he has worked on many of the building services
disciplines and has thorough involvement in Hydraulics, HVAC & Treatment subjects. He has
been highly successful in understanding new technologies and presenting it to industry for
successful incorporation. In his career he has worked on applications like Clear and Waste
Water Pumping, Treatment, Piping, Off Peak Cooling, Ventilation, Chilled Beams and so on.

Mr. Satnam has been involved in Xylem products from year 2001 through its channel partner.
He has joined Xylem directly from Year 2012 and is heading Building Services business of Xylem
in India. He can be contacted on his email id satnam.singh@xyleminc.com

Hydraulics in High Rise Buildings

Satnam Singh, Head- Building Services