Re: Which Thermal Store/Heat Bank

[IMM]

I don't want to start any wars off but would

> like some objective advice > about my water system. Yes I have done > some homework but I am still still > not completely happy about what system to > install. I have just bought a new Vaillant > Turbomax 28 plus it was cheap £400 > inc electronic timer and flue > which I am installing at the moment as > a stopgap until I put in the store. > I want to use the combi as a system boiler to feed > the store which will feed the > - bath , > - 1 shower, > - all the hot taps, > - the washing machine.

A 180 litre DHW only heat bank will supply these outlets. This is a modulating boiler. It think it just maintains a set flow temp, not load compensation modulation. Ed can confirm he know vaillant very well. If just maintaining a set flow temp, then have a blending valve on the flow return to the heat bank. Have it set 10C below full boiler temp, 62C. Have the boiler set to max temp, 82C.

The other shower room will > be fed from the DHW part of > the combi . > I am running a 22mm > manifold up to feed the hot water > requirements and teeing off in 15mm to all > the hot water outlets.

Have 22mm pipe to the bathtap.

The house has a 25mm plastic feed > which goes to 22mm to all cold feeds.

Insert in-line isolation valves on the cold outlets. You can turn the cold, and hot, outlets down if they are robbing the hot of pressure/flow.

Have a pressure equalisation valve before each shower mixer, or buy a mixer with an integral equalisation vale. Screwfix now do them.

I will run 15mm to the shower room > hot and cold, it is only 2.5 metres > from the rising main and the boiler. I > need to know which is the best thermal > store to do this and what size. The > house has 5 beds , 2 adults , 2 > teenagers and 3 little ones and yes we > are Catholic. I need help !!!

Rob,

Things to consider:

- A heat bank can have an electric backup immersion, so if the boiler is down the shower room will not have hot water.

- When the boiler supplies the heat bank only it will deliver all its energy into the heat bank. When two showers are being used the combi fed shower will take the combi's power, and maybe not all of it as it may modulate down in the process. So some potential energy is not being full used.

- A 210-240 litre heat bank will do the lot. You can then take all hot draw-offs off the heat bank, and have electric backup. You be able to draw off 40 litres of hot water. Probably more than your needs.

- But what if the heat bank is down in that the pump fails or a stat is out? It is worth having the water section of the combi also supply all outlets (tee into the hot outlet pipe of the heat bank and isert two full bore valves here). Then if the heat bank is down just turn one full bore valve off and one on, to switch from the heat bank to the combi. So, backup all around. The combi will not supply all, but give a decent shower and excellent supply using up to two draw-offs , but probably not two showes together.

- The cold water mains. As it comes in, tee into it after the stop c*ck, have a dedicated 22mm pipe supply the heat bank and combi (both will not be on at the same time). The other tee at the stopcock. Take a pipe from this to the cold taps. An option is fit a 22mm pressure equalisation here instead of having them on the shower mixers, so the whole is pressure is equalised. Plumb Center do these.

- Having the water section of the combi idle, will mean it will be very reliable, as nothing will switching in on a regular basis; it will only be for backup.

That is how I would approach it.