3 Ways in which Pipe Joining Solutions Benefit the HVAC Industry

30th April 2020

By: Creamer Media Reporter

     

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Victaulic Regional Manager, Marcel Ley, explores some of the ways in which Victaulic solutions are providing tangible efficiencies for the South African HVAC sector.

1. Supporting a Greener Future

According to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, climate change is already a measurable reality that poses significant social, economic and environmental risks.  Like other developing countries, South Africa is especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change. The country is forced to perform a delicate balancing act between accelerating economic growth and transformation and the sustainable use of environmental resources.

The HVAC industry is continually looking at ways to deploy innovative technology to increase the energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems in homes and businesses throughout the world. Not only do these advances bring energy saving benefits to users, but environmentally friendly heating and cooling technology can assist with reducing our impact on climate change.

South Africa’s year-round warm climate necessitates the extensive use of air conditioning in commercial buildings and homes. The various new technologies within the HVAC sector are focusing on system efficiency and renewable energy sources to combat temperature fluctuations, while remaining cognizant of the implications for the environment.  

In order to function optimally and efficiently, heating and cooling rely heavily on the constant availability of fluid or refrigerant. This is only possible if the HVAC system operates as a closed loop. Victaulic, founded in 1919, is the leading innovator in piping solutions and services and is now changing the way the construction industry looks at piping systems.

Victaulic’s grooved mechanical couplings can be used to join sections of piping to provide an effective and reliable seal. This allows HVAC systems to function without putting additional pressure on an already constrained power grid and supporting the trend of going greener.    

2. Maintaining a Perfect Balance

Comfort has evolved from being a ‘nice to have’ in the workplace to becoming an integral part of the employee value proposition. One of the workplace prerequisites for employees and other building occupants is that their environment is maintained at a moderate, constant temperature.

Inconsistent HVAC systems cause temperature variations that can have far-reaching consequences. Occupants of buildings experiencing these disparities begin to take preventative actions, such as using space heaters, opening windows or adjusting thermostats. And when these measures don’t deliver the desired results, larger pumps are sourced, components are resized, and night setback and morning startup times are adjusted.

These types of stopgap fixes often prove to be ineffective and costly.

Indoor temperature and climate problems can often be traced back to incorrect flow rates in the HVAC system due to unsuitable terminal unit balancing. Proper circuit balancing is essential to

ensure that the heating and cool water system delivers correct flows to all terminal units in the HVAC system.

Additionally, applying the correct technique to determine the system flow rate through the balancing valve will ultimately result in lower wear and tear costs, longer equipment service life, savings in maintenance and energy costs and happier tenants. 

3. Keeping it Peaceful

In 2013, Victaulic turned to NASA to definitively answer a question that had been posed time and time again: can grooved couplings provide noise and vibration control for HVAC systems?

NASA’s Vibration and Acoustic Test Facility (VATF) confirmed that that the vibration attenuation provided by three Victaulic flexible couplings, installed near the source of vibration, outperformed double sphere rubber connectors and stainless-steel braided pump connectors.   

The answer then is a resounding yes, there is proof that couplings provide noise and vibration control in HVAC systems. More specifically, there is proof that Victaulic grooved couplings reduce pipe noise and pipe vibration better than some of the other more traditional equipment vibration attenuation solutions.

So, how do the physical properties of a flexible grooved mechanical coupling make it intuitively noise dampening?

The unique construction of Victaulic grooved flexible coupling enables the gasket to seal against pipe, while the housing provides both space for the seal to flex and containment to prevent overstretching. These couplings work to create a permanent leak-tight seal, with no need for additional reinforcement. Additionally, ductile iron also absorbs sound.

Traditional vibration attenuation equipment can be quite expensive to purchase and maintain. Grooved mechanical pipe joining solutions offer an alternative that features noise and vibration reduction benefits without having to purchase specific extras or splash out on costly maintenance.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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