Conparison Table Between Pressure Independent Control Valve vs Manual Valve with Differential Pressure Controller FLOWCON

MODEL SME / SM Manual Balancing Valve +

OTHER
Differential Pressure Controller + 2-Way Pressure Dependent Control Valve

FEATURE

DEFINITION

Pressure Independent Control Valve (Modulating Control + DP Controller + Automatic Balancing)

Manual Balancing Valve

Differential Pressure Controller

2-Way Pressure Dependent Control Valve

DESCRIPTION

SME/SM valve controls and balances Q at varying dP (Full Load & Part Load)

Balance Q manually @ specific constant dP

Maintain dP constant within + individual loop/branch

Control Q @ specific constant dP

APPLICATION

Only One PICV to one Terminal(FCU/AHU) No more additional balancing valve or dp controller require at main, riser or branches

Main, riser, branch and terminal

Branch return side

Terminal

SIZING

Dynamic Variable Cv valve -- No Cv calculations required; simply know the Q and tune the settings (100% Valve Authority)

Static Cv valve - Tedious Cv Select dPL in tables, pipe size + + calculations required , check desired Q < spec. Q.

Tedious Cv calculations for authority sizing Restricted to limited CV Value (Control Valve often oversized; 50% Valve Authority

PLUMBING RESTRICTIONS

None (Pressure Independent Characteristic-Spacing Saving)

Install at the return line with balancing valve at the supply Placed at a safe distance of + + connected with a capillary 2D - 5D on pipe tube

N.A.

COST

Just 1 Pressure Independent Control Valve at terminal Installation cost for just 1 valve No commissioning required

VS

Manual Balancing Valve + 2-way Control Valve(Terminal) + Manual balancing valves + DP Controller(Branches) + extra set of balancing valve at main, risers Installation cost for all the valves Expensive Balancing Instruments + Additional Labour to commission valves

RETROFITTING / ADDENDUM

Equipment added do not require to rebalancing as the PICV will adjust automatically to maintain the required flowrate. Allow project to run in phases without having to rebalance the system Pressure Independent Control Valve Authority is always at 100% due to the in-build Dp Controller which equalize the pressure during variable flow in the distribution loop With 100% control valve authority, the output odf the controller for the setpoint will not be affected by fluctuating DP

Equipment added will require rebalancing as the DP Controller only maintain constant Dp and balancing will be require at terminal level for individual branch Project running in phases will require some rebalancing of system

CONTROL VALVE AUTHORITY

Control Valve Authority can be easily sized at 50% depending on the available KV value for the control valve and setting on the Dp controller in the distribution loop. In event of a long loop with ahu and fcu, fluctuating Dp will still occur within the control loop, which will affect the authority and cause the controller to hunt for the setpoint

PART LOAD OPERATION

At full/part load, design flow will always be maintained with no overflow at all time.

At full load, design flow can be maintained. But at part load, slight overflow with occur within the control loop.

ACCURACY

+/-5% (Factory Pre-set)

+/-10% (Site setting)

TIME

No time spent in calculating Cv valves (Least nos of valves in system) Installation time for just 1 valve No Balancing required - Self Balancing System Low head requirement with just 1 valve (Typically at 16/35kpa depending on index Loop) Pressure Independent Control Valve require at terminal only Lowest pump head requirement 1 valve --> inaccuracies, losses, head, pump head, motor power, overall cost, time spent, energy savings

Time spent in calculating Cv valves (Most nos of valves in system) Installation time for all valves = Time Consuming Commissioning time for all terminal units, branches, riser and mian

PUMP HEAD

Higher head requirement for all balancing valve in series(Main, riser, branch and terminal)(12-20kpa) + Control valve(16-35kpa) + Dp Controller(10-25kpa) Higher pump head requirement

ENERGY SAVINGS

valves, inaccuracies, losses, head, pump head, motor power, total cost, time spent, energy savings

REMARKS