To Combine or Not To Combine An In-Depth Review of Standard and Combined Hydronic Systems and Their Various Pitfalls

Abstract

A hydronic heating system is simply a piping arrangement conveying hot water to heat exchangers in order to provide space heating. A conventional hydronic heating system usually delivers hot supply water at 180 to 200 Fahrenheit temperature and has a dedicated space heating boiler. The hot water return temperature is usually about 140 Fahrenheit, meaning a 40 to 60 temperature difference between supply and return. The conventional hydronic heating system has a relatively constant circulated water flow rate and the temperature of the delivered hot water supply can be reset from outside air temperature. The water flow balancing of a conventional hydronic heating system is somewhat straightforward, although quite critical. The pipe sizing is determined on the basis of gallons per minute flow rate, the selected system pressure drop, and the maximum prudent velocity for the specific piping material. The circulating pump is selected on the basis of the required gallons per minute