HOT WATER SUPPLY

Building Services
Hot water supply
Hot water supply

Water Heaters Central Hot water systems

Instant water heaters

Storage type water heaters

Solar water heaters

 Hot water supply
01) Instant Water Heaters (Geysers): This water heater has a small size and looks. It has narrow cylindrical shape. The
outer cover or container is made of C.P. (chromium plated) Brass or of P.V.C. Inside this body is provided electric heating
coils (similar to what one sees in water immersion heater). This Geyser is provided with a cold water inlet at the bottom. The
cold water thus enters through the bottom and is heated when it comes in contact with the hot electrical coils which are inside.
The heated water naturally rises and is taken out from the outlet provided at the top of the body of the Geyser. The outlet has a
spout like shape hence hot water falls downward from the Geyser which need to be collected in a bucket or any other
similar container. Since the heater has no storage capacity one has to ensure a continuous water flow through the Geyser
especially when in use. The inlet of cold water to the Geyser is controlled by providing a stop valve on the cold water
supply pipe. The hot water from this Geyser can be collected only in a bucket or similar vessel but cannot be connected
through a pipeline to supply hot water to wash basin, washing tap or to shower. This is a major shortcoming of this kind of
water heater, hence this is invariably located and provided in bathing spaces.
Hot water supply
02) Storage Type Water Heaters: The shape of this type of Geyser is long
wide cylindrical resembling a Drum and is bigger in size than Instant type
Geyser. This type of Geyser is available in different storage capacities
ranging from 15 ltrs. to 90 ltrs.
The outer part of the Geyser is normally made out of thick M. Steel and is
thoroughly and properly painted in different colours. Inner layer (placed
next to M.S. sheet) is made out of thick copper sheet between these two
metal sheets is firmly placed a thick layer of good insulating material
(mostly glass wool or thermocol). Within the space of the inner cover of
copper are located electrical heating coils. The surface area of these heating
coils depends upon the quantity of water to be heated and stored. This
Geyser is provided with a Thermostat control which automatically cuts off
the electrical supply when water is heated to predetermined /
preprogrammed temperature and similarly automatically puts on the
electric supply when the temperature of water inside the Geyser drops
(becomes cold) to a pre programmed level. These Geysers are also
provided with pilot lights which indicates/shows whether the Geyser is in
On mode or Off mode.
Hot water supply
3) Solar water heaters:
The electrical energy is largely used to heat the water in Geysers. Forproduction of electricity majority of
power plants use fossil fuels to run the turbines. These power plants cause lot of environmental pollution and
as is well known the world has limited reserves of such fuels. Hence the electrical energy that is being used for
heating the water for hot water supply systems in most of the buildings is in fact not a clean or environmental
friendly energy neither can be said to be sustainable.

Effective alternative to this especially for heating the water for hot water supply systems in building/s is to tap
and use the energy that is inexhaustible, available in abundance, is clean and sustainable as well and the source of
such an energy is Sun — 'The Solar Energy' Sun in fact provides to the earth many thousands time larger power
than the present consumption rate on the earth of all commercial services.
Hot water supply
The supply of hot water in building/s by heating the water by using Solar Thermal Energy is earned out by providing a
device known as 'Solar Collector'. This solar collector has three major components namely 1)Absorber 2)Fluid
flow passage and 3) Insulation.

Absorber consists of a dark coloured (usually black) surface which when exposed to sun absorbs the solar radiation
and transfers a great part of absorbed radiation to the fluid (water) flowing through fluid flow passage placed
either over or under it, thereby heating the fluid (water) flowing in the fluid flow passage. Suitable insulation is
provided to check the heat loss.

Solar collectors are of two types

1) Flat Plate
2) Concentrating
a) Plane reflector
b) Compound parabolic
c) Cylindrical Parabolic
d) Fresnel
Hot water supply
 Hot water supply
WORKING
The solar radiation falling on the flat plate collector gets absorbed by the absorber and the heat of radiation thus heats the
water flowing in the "fluid flow passage". As the heat of absorbed solar radiation heats the water it becomes lighter and
moves up to the top of the water storage drum due to 'thermo - syphon effect" and gets collected in this insulated stainless
steel drum. It is in this manner the water is heated and gets stored in the drum and this stored hot water is available for the end
user/s from the upper region of the storage drum. The relatively cold water within the storage drum moves to the lower end of
the drum and from here through the pipe moves down and enters the collector from its bottom and the process of heating
repeats.
The hot water (outlet) supply pipe line from storage drum is connected to the hot water supply network of the building for use
by its occupants.
Hot water supply
LOCATION
The complete assembly called 'Solar Water Heater' as far as possible should be located at the highest
possible location of the building with glazed surface of the collector panel facing South, at such a
position which is shadow free and where sun shines for longest possible period of the day, especially
during the winter season. The other aspect which need to be taken care of during ascertaining the
position of the Solar Water Heater is to ensure that the insulated stainless steel storage drum is at
lower level than the overhead water storage tank (The main water tank) of the water supply system of
the building, so as to ensure continuous water flow to the solar heater by gravitational force.
A solar water heater with storage capacity of 100 litres is generally considered to be suitable for
domestic consumption of 4 users per day. Where the number of users are more; then the owner/users
of the building has to install number of solar water heating assemblies, which can be placed in series
either side by side or behind one another. Alternatively the assemblies can be placed one above the
other in this case the bottom of the collector panel at the rear has to be above the top of the collector
panel in the front and has to maintain the same angle of inclination as that of the assembly below and
pipe line carrying hot water are interconnected. Due to this arrangement the height of the collector
panels in the second (rear) row will be much higher than the collector panel in the first row.
Centralized Hot Water Systems
Individual Heaters prove to be useful in small installations, such as houses, etc. However in large installations
like hotels, the demand of hot water is usually large involving a large number of supply points, and hence
installing individual geyser in such buildings may prove to be uneconomical and troublesome, involving
heavy consumption of electricity and maintenance problems. In such buildings, therefore it is usually
advantageous to provide a central hot water system, in which the water is heated at one particular place in a
broiler (of course water is heated and not boiled) and then circulated in the entire building through a
properly designed network of hot water piping system, as to make the hot water reach at each distribution
point.

The broiler to be used in such a system can use either electricity or any other fossil fuel like coal, wood,
kerosene, diesel, furnace oil, natural gas, L.P.G., gobar gas or solar energy.
1. Natural Thermo-symphonic action
A simple typical installation of hot water system, using an overhead cold storage tank, a centralizd broiler at
ground level, one hot water main, rising vertically up from the broiler, one distribution main. The remotest
point D of the distribution main is connected back to the broiler by a return pipe DEF.

In such an installation, the circulation of hot water from the main pipe connected to the broiler and the
return line can occur without the use of pump.
The thermo-symphonic action takes place due to the difference in density of water at different temperatures
(more density at lower temperatures).

Thermo-symphonic circulation will take place when the broiler is placed below the point of supply. The hot
water from the broiler rises in the main line due to less density. The water in the rest of the system will have
a lower temperature due to loss of heat in the system and tends to settle at the bottom through return pipe.
This water will thus move towards the broiler where it gets reheated and the cycle continues.
Convective current is thus generated in the system which is known as thermo-symphonic action.

This system works in smaller installations where usage of hot water is uniform.
1. Natural Thermo-symphonic action
2. Forced circulation
Since the natural thermo-symphonic circulating pressure is usually low, it becomes necessary in larger
installations to generate additional pressure within he system to force the water by means of a pump.

The hot water piping network can be arranged in different ways depending upon the architectural and
structural considerations of a building.
The most common systems are:
i. Downfeed System
ii. Upfeed system
iii. Reverse circulation System
2. Forced circulation
i. Downfeed System

In this system, the main vertical hot

water line (1) is lifted to the top floor
or to the terrace where the
distribution main (2) will run over the
floor. Single downtake pipes are
dropped in each shaft to join a
common return line DE at the lowest
level which is then connected to the
broiler.
2. Forced circulation
ii. Upfeed System

In this system, the main vertical hot

water line and the return pipe both are
laid at the ceiling of the lowest floor
like basement roof or on ground floor.
Vertical upflow pipes (2) and their
corresponding return pipes (3) supply
the water to the rooms above.
2. Forced circulation
ii. Reverse circulation System

This system is similar to the upfeed

system except the return flow occurs in
the same direction as that of the main
flow pipe (1) till the end of the
remotest circuit, from where it returns
to the broiler through a separate
reverse return line (2).
This system is suitable when the circuits
are long and where there is a possibility
of the least favourably placed fixtures
not getting adequate flow or pressure.
A reverse return line enables closer
balancing of pressure in the system.
Solar water heaters