HOT

WATER SUPPLY

THEORY OF WATER HEATING

When water begins to boil, it turns into steam; the
temperature at which water changes from liquid to
vapor is known as boiling point
The normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is 14.7psi
this is known as one atmosphere
Water subjected to negaBve pressure (vacuum) boils
at a lower temperature
Water expands as it is heated, and the expansion can
increase the pressure of a water heater
The higher the internal pressure of a water heater, the
higher the boiling point of water inside the heater
If water is heated above the normal boiling point when
it is under the system pressure, that heated water will
ash into steam when exposed to the normal
atmospheric condiBons

FORMS OF HEAT
Sensible heat
Is that which causes a change in temperature when it
is added or removed

Latent heat
Is that which causes a change of state in the
substance, from solid to liquid to gas or vapor, while
the temperature remains constant when it is added or
removed

Note : The amount of heat that must be added to

or removed from a unit mass of substance in order
to change its temperature by one degree is known
as the specic heat of that substance.

The Demand of Hot Water - quanHty and temperature

Hot water is normally supplied to the Lngs and consumers
at 50 - 60 oC.
For canteens and professional kitchen a temperature
of 65oC are required to saBsfy most hygienic standards.
Hot water should not be stored at temperatures
below 60 oC to avoid the risk of legionella.
Where a lower temperatures are necessary for safety reasons -
as in kindergartens, centers for disabled etc. - the hot water
temperature should not exceed 40 - 50 oC.
The hot water can be stored at higher temperatures and
reduced to supply temperature by mixing with cold water in
blender valves.
Storing hot water at a higher temperature increases the
systems overall capacity and reduces the need of storage
volume.

HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION TYPES

Up-feed and Gravity Return System
Commonly used in small residenBal and
industrial installaBons; its objecBves are:
Provide constant circulaBon of hot water
Draw hot water immediately from the xture at
any Bme
Provide a circulaBng return for economy
Eliminate waste of water

HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION TYPES

Overhead Feed and Gravity Return System
An ecient type of hot water distribuBon
system generally used in buildings of extreme
heights; its operaBng principles are:
Water distribuBon is dependent on the expansion
of hot water and gravity. In a closed pipeline
system, water rises up to the highest point of the
installaBon when heated and the natural force of
gravity return it to the storage tank
Water will circulate even if there may be defect in
the mechanical construcBon

INSTALLATION IN TALL BUILDINGS

When the water supply of very tall buildings is designed as a unit, the
required capaciBes of tanks, pumps and piping become unduly large
and excessive pressures are developed in the lower porBons of the
down-feed risers
The building, therefore, is divided into horizontal secBons, or zones, and
design the hot and cold water supply systems separately for each zone

In buildings of more than 20 stories, zoning is generally more

economical for hot and cold water supply

The roof and intermediate tanks are situated on the top oors of their
respecBve zones and are lled by pumps in the basement
The hot water heaters are located at the boYom of their respecBve zones
and are supplied from the zone tanks
The cold water distribuBon line of each zone is carried in a loop around
the building concealed in hung ceilings, the down-feed risers being taken
o the loop as required; each loop is just below its corresponding tank
The hot water system is arranged in the same manner with distribuBon
loops and down-feed risers, but the ends of the risers in each zone are
connected back to the heaters at the boYom of the zone, thus, providing
complete circulaBon for the hot water required for ow

TYPES OF WATER HEATERS

INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER TYPES

Heat water on demand, and vary from the small hand

wash units o[en seen in public buildings, to electric
showers or combinaBon boilers.
CombinaBon boilers are so called because they
combine the tradiBonal capabiliBes of a standard
central heaBng boiler with the added funcBonality of
being able to uBlize the full boiler capacity to heat
water instantaneously.
May be referred to as tank-less types which means
that it does not maintain a capacity of tempered
water for use; also called point-of-use types
The energy source used to heat the water is not acBve
unless water ows

Advantages

Disadvantages

Heats the water that you

need on demand when you
need it
Where water is blended for
example a combination boiler
feeding a shower-mixing
valve the flow rate is
generally good depending on
the boiler output
No stored water tanks in the
dwelling
Can fit a water outlet, tap or
shower almost anywhere
within the dwelling
Less to install therefore
greater flexibility and more
space

Major problem if the

instantaneous heater breaks
down (buy a reliable branded
product)
Lower flow rates than stored
systems.
Often a small radiator is
added to compensate, at a
cost, if central heating is
installed.
Electric units require specialist
wiring, in some cases e.g. a
10 KW electric shower fresh
wiring may need to be
installed back to the main
fuse box.

STORAGE TANK TYPES

Relies on hot water rising to the top of the tank
and the coolest water staying in the boYom
porBon of the tank
LocaBon of water entering and exiBng a storage
tank depends on the specic design of the water
heater
The 2 basic designs are top-fed and boYom-fed
top-fed designs route the incoming cold water through a dip
tube to the boYom of the tank
BoYom-fed design features the cold water inlet connecBon
at the boYom of the tank
Hot water connecBons for both designs are located near the
top of the tanks

STORAGE TANK TYPES

The tanks of these types are sized based on use,
capacity and type
The 2 most common types are glass-lined and stone-
lined steel; the inside of the tank is lined or coated for
protecBon against corrosion
An anode rod, a magnesium- or aluminum-based rod,
is installed inside the tank in a designated connecBon
locaBon

Storage water systems

Water is heated either directly in the storage cylinder, for
example by an electric immersion heater or from a remote
boiler.
The two main types of system are the open vented and the
unvented.

The open vented water system relies on a large volume of

stored water, usually located in a plasBc water tank in the
aLc. The weight of stored water is usually sucient to push
water down the pipe that feeds the water storage cylinder
and back up to any tap or shower outlet, provided it is lower
than the stored water level.
The un-vented stored water system in general terms relies on
mains water pressure to push the water out of the cylinder or
through the pipe circuit to the tap or shower outlet

Advantages

Disadvantages

High flow rates depending

on height of stored water or
mains pressure
Power shower capability
depending on choice of
cylinder
Low maintenance costs
especially with electric
heating (excluding remote
boiler)
Less risk of being without a
hot water supply due to
breakdown.

Regular maintenance required

on un-vented units
Need to pre-heat hot water to
match demand
Hot water availability is
restricted by the heat recovery
time period and size of cylinder
Require storage tanks and
space

OPEN-VENTED HOT WATER SYSTEM

INDIRECT-FIRED WATER HEATER SYSTEMS

Water is heated by cycling hot water from a hydronic or
steam boiler through a loop inside of a steel tank. The
water in the tank is heated by the water in the coil.
Indirect red water heater tanks for domesBc hot water are
usually located close to the heaBng boiler and will have both
cold and hot water lines leaving the tank to supply the
building with domesBc hot water and a loop of piping that
runs between the boYom of the tank, usually, and a nearby
heaBng boiler.
The water in an indirect red water heater unit is heated by
a nned copper coil located inside the hot water tank. The
internal coil is in turn heated by circulaBng water inside the
coil to and from the heaBng boiler.

TYPES OF HOT WATER TANKS

Range Boiler

The boiler heats the water and, normally, a pump

circulates the water through the pipework and
radiators and back to the boiler
Made of galvanized sheet, steel or copper
Built into cylindrical shape with concave ends either
welded or riveted
Varies in size from 0.30 to 0.60m in diameter with a
length of not more than 1.80m
Installed in either horizontal or verBcal posiBon
SpecicaBons:
Standard press 378 Newtons (85psi)
Extra heavy 667 Newtons (150psi)
Tapping for both is 25mm or 38mm (1 or 1 )

TYPES OF HOT WATER TANKS

Storage Tank

As hot water is drawn from the top of the tank, cold

water enters the boYom of the tank and is heated.
The heaBng source can be electricity, gas or oil.
Made of heavy-duty stainless steel sheet
Built into cylindrical shape with concave ends either
welded or riveted
Varies in size from 0.60 to 1.30m in diameter with a
length of not more than 5.00m
Installed in horizontal or verBcal posiBon
SpecicaBons:
Standard press 289 Newtons (65psi)
Extra heavy 449 Newtons (100psi)
Tapping in each tank 6 pcs

SIZE OF HOT WATER TANK

Depends on the following consideraBons:
Kind of building served
Expected number of occupants
HeaBng capacity of supply devices

Type of building

ConsumpBon per Peak demand per

occupant
occupant
liter/day gal/day liter/hr

Factories (no process) 22 - 45

Hospitals, general
Hospitals, mental
Hostels

160
110
90

Storage per
occupant

gal/hr

liter

gal

5 - 10

35
25
20

30
22
45

7
5
10

27
27
30

6
6
7

Hotels

90 - 160 20 - 35

45

10

30

Houses and ats

90 - 160 20 - 35

45

10

30

9
20
9

2
4
2

5
25
5

1
5
1

Oces
Schools, boarding
Schools, day

22
115
15

5
25
3

Hot-Water Storage Capacity (Gallons)

Tank Length ([)
Tank
Diameter
(inches)

10

20

16

32

48

66

82

98

114

131

147

163

22

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

24

24

48

72

96

120

144

168

192

216

240

30

37

74

110

147

184

220

257

294

330

367

36

53

106

159

212

265

317

370

423

476

529

42

72

144

216

288

360

432

504

576

648

720