Chapter 17

Hydronic Heat
 Objectives
• After completing the material in this chapter, the
student should be able to:
– Explain the concept of hydronic heating.
– List the three most commonly used heat sources in boilers.
– Describe basic boiler construction.
– Identify component parts of a boiler.
– Explain the operation of a boiler.
– Describe various components that maintain the desired
water temperature in a boiler.
– Explain the difference between a one-pipe and a two-pipe
hot water system.

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 Objectives
• After completing the material in this chapter, the
student should be able to:
– Discuss the difference between direct-return systems and
reverse-return systems.
– Describe the operation and function of centrifugal pumps.
– Explain the function of boiler controls and safety devices.
– Explain the function of an expansion tank.
– Explain the point of no pressure change.
– Check the pressure in an expansion tank.
– Explain primary-secondary pumping.

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 Objectives
• After completing the material in this
chapter, the student should be able to:
– Explain the concept of “zoning.”
– Explain how a radiant heating system creates
comfort.
– Explain the operation of a radiant heating
system.
– Install a boiler.
– Service boilers.

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 Theory of Hydronic
Heating Systems
• Hydronic systems rely on circulating water
or steam to deliver heat to remote
locations where heating is desired.
• Heat exchangers are typically radiators or
terminal units.

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 Theory of Hydronic
Heating Systems
• Hot water, two-pipe direct return hydronic
system.

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 The Heat Sources
• Burning fossil fuels.
• Collecting solar energy from the sun.
• Converting electrical energy directly into
heat energy.
• Utilizing vapor compression.

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 Aquastat
• A sensing switch that is responsible for
cycling the boiler on and off in order to
keep the water in the boiler close to the
desired temperature.
• Opens electrical contacts on a rise in
water temperature.

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Aquastat

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 Low-Water Cutoff
• Responsible for de-energizing the boiler in
the event the water level in the system
falls below the desired level.
• Normally closed safety device.

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Low-Water Cutoff

(Photo by Eugene Silberstein)

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 Expansion Tank
• Creates a space for expanding water in
the system to occupy.
• Located higher than the boiler.
• Contains an air cushion.

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 Expansion Tank
• Expansion tank.
(Photo by Eugene Silberstein)

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 Expansion Tank
• Steel expansion tank.

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 Centrifugal Pumps
• Pumps used to move water through
hydronic systems are often called
circulators.
– These circulators operate on centrifugal force.
– They are made up of a motor, a linkage, and
an impeller.

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 Centrifugal Pumps

(Courtesy of Ferris State University; Photo by John Tomczyk)

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 Air Vents and Separators
• Air separator.
(Courtesy of Bell & Gossett)

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 Air Vents and Separators
• Wire screen in the air
separator.
(Photo by Eugene Silberstein)

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 Air Vents and Separators
• Automatic air vent.
(Courtesy of Bell & Gossett)

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 Pressure-Reducing Valve
• Pressure-reducing
valve.
(Courtesy of Bell & Gossett)

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 Pressure-Reducing Valve
• Proper location for the
pressure-reducing
valve.

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 Pressure Relief Valve
• Safety relief valve.
(Courtesy of Bell & Gossett)

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 Pressure Relief Valve
• Hot water
supply
manifold.
(Courtesy of Bell
& Gossett)

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 Zone Valves
• Zoned structures enable the occupants of
each area to control the temperature in
that particular area with a thermostat
located within that area.
• These zones are controlled with zone
valves.
• Zone valves open and close in response
to the temperature in the space.

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 Zone Valves
• Zone valves on a
multiple zone loop.
(Photo by Eugene Silberstein)

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Flow Control Valves

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Balancing Valves

(Photo by Bill Johnson)

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 Series Loop System
• Series loop piping circuit.

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One-Pipe System

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 Diverter Tee
• Common piping between the tees.
• Diverter tee located at the return side of
the terminal unit.

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 The Radiant System
• Provides even heating of the occupied
space.
• Sized to control the rate of heat loss by the
occupants of the space.
• Radiant heat piping:
– Slab on grade
– Thin slab
– Dry

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 The Radiant System
• Cutaway of a slab-
on-grade radiant
piping layout.
(Courtesy of Uponor
Wirsbo)

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 Installing and Starting
the Hydronic System
• Setting and installing the boiler
• Installing the piping
• Wiring the unit
• Filling the system
• Starting up the system

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 Summary
• Hydronic systems circulate hot water or steam to
the occupied space for heating purposes.
• Hot water is typically generated in the boiler, which
can be gas-fired, oil-fired, or electric.
• Cast iron boilers are made up of bolted sections
that form the heat exchange surface.
• Water temperature in the boiler can be maintained
by the aquastat or reset control.
• The low-water cutoff cycles the boiler off in the
event that the water level falls below a safe level.

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 Summary
• The expansion tank allows for the expansion of
heated water.
• The point where the expansion tank is connected to
the system is referred to as the point of no pressure
change.
• The centrifugal pump is responsible for circulating the
water through the system and is located so that it
pumps away from the point of no pressure change.
• Air in the system is removed by using air separators
and air vents.

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 Summary
• The pressure-reducing valve opens and closes to
maintain the desired water pressure in the system.
– It is also piped into the system at the point of no pressure
change.
• The pressure relief valve is a safety device that opens to
relieve system pressure if it rises above the present limit.
• Flow control valves prevent gravity flow through hot water
loops when the circulators are off.
• Zone valves are used to control water flow to different
zones in the structure to maintain different temperatures
in those areas.

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 Summary
• Common piping configurations include the series
loop system, one-pipe system, two-pipe direct
return, and two-pipe reverse return.
• One-pipe systems utilize monoflo or diverter tees to
balance water flow.
• Two-pipe direct return systems often use balancing
valves to evenly distribute water flow through each
branch.
• Primary-secondary pumping systems use
circulators in both the primary and secondary loops.

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 Summary
• The secondary loop uses the primary loop as the
expansion tank.
• Radiant heat systems require low water
temperatures in the range of 105°F to 120°F.
• Radiant heating systems often use mixing valves
to maintain the desired water temperature.
• Primary-secondary systems can be used to
provide both high temperature water for
baseboard terminal units and low temperature
water for use in radiant loops.

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