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I se LowegemL 7. / Per to Jligaini LEED Creditg can Piping Systems Computer-Aided Hot-Water Circulation System Sizing Anjan Lu, CPO Author's Note: The fol- Figure, RserTempateand UserForm svater supply, and the green sewing couric ceseribes cells indicate the rerura. ll cam Excel program Fwrote to ‘mae bor-weuer circstasion system stzing easter. For a free copy of the template contact me ‘a luay@yahoo.com. Upcoming “Computer Corner" columns yellow cells are for user input all D4 shows the pipe code, a letter indicating the pipe's matenal and schedule. Ifyou select insulated pipe in the Userlorm, the pipe code will discuss the techniques used is L, which means copper in developing this template tube type I, The code for ‘and other programs relating to Bare ~ Steel Sch 40 is §; the plumbing system design. code for Bare ~ Brass Pipe is B; and the code for Bare - CT ‘Type Kis K, Range C5:C1é lists different pipe sizes. In range DS:D14 you input the riser length of dilferent diameters. Range E5:E14 shows the heat loss, calculated by multiplying the physical riser length in column D by the heat loss per unit pipe length. To cal calate the head! loss, the program uses the total length (physical or developed length) plus the equivalent length of valves and fittings. When you input the fittings in range F5:F14, their equivalent lengths appear in range GS:G14. In this, In ig article *Hot-Whtee Recirculation Systems? in Plumbing System & Design's May/June 2004 issue, Joseph Messina summarized the importance of hot wator circulation system sizing with practical, simplified methods. Some- times, though, designers oversize hot- ‘water recirculation systems in an effort to save energy. Thus, I want to intro duce a computer-aided sizing procedure that ean make sizing more accurate How it Works Microsoft Excel is one of the most popular spreadsheets for engineering program, Excel makes a copy from the template, so you can use it repeatedly without overwriting the original file. When you open the file, a UserForm (a VBA component) appears with a hot- water recirculation system sizing calcula- tion template (see Figure 1). The UserForm. On the right side of the screen is the UserForm, where you can select the pipe type: insulated or bare. IF itis bare, select one of the three choices: Bare - Steel Sch 40, Bare = Brass Pipe, or Bare ~ CT Type K. You calcula ns. Its User-Defined Functions (UDF) and Visual Basic for Applications also can specify the number of risers (the default is one) and delta T (the example there are nw elhaws, ane tee ‘one gate ot hall valve, and one check valve in the hot water weirs riser (VBA) offer numerous capabilites that simply calculate engineering problems, Excel has many functions ready for default is 29). The reset button in the ‘Therefore, you enter 2etge in cell FT Userfnem restarts new calculations. The Range HS-H14 shows total pipe lengths. dns riser button caleulates a simulated use under the Paste Function icon on riser diagram (explained later). You can see range 1614 if it is high- lighted. These figures are specific heat the standard toolbar. However, they are not advanced enough for engineering use, such as when you want to calculate Friction loss using the Hazen-Wiliams, Formula, A UDF is a function that you can define to peeform a ‘The Template. On the let side of the sermon is the template si a typi cal hot-water recirculation system riser diagram. The pink celle indi losses for diferent pipe sizes in Buu/he per lineal foot when water temporatuce is MOPP and room temperature is 70°F (ove Table 1). Range F4.C4 automati cally numbers the risers Table 1._ Piping Heat Loss _ Range C15:F21 outputs the xe the hot ih ie his VR i Mesos FC ue a ERA TEERGTERAT] rates os vnge C1797 common programming (mace) farfioa ‘where you citer the rtura pi langonge By using UDEs ant Nonna | Ingltedive [Sed AO] Bass | Tek | “res Yu cme the cess ips Vitkyon cin docga acing [Pops Orbea (See | pee | oipe | ays cl” Oro tase spreadsheet to caleuate hot [9 7 BOP] B19 sumac hc eat lose erection rye 4 BETES] (ioc 223 byw far sizing, 1 [6-39] obtain the Now in gallons per ‘he Procedures ef [ae] minute denves the tol tow To peo tteclciaion, Ft — BT TS din gp th sown you need to prepare an Excel 7 ou = SEY in cell E16, The factor is 10,000 template with UDFs and VBA BR] ora temperature diferent of procedures and save it in the 3 9 18 Ta] 20°, 5,000 for 10°F temperature template directory. In this case 6 6B 33 161 149

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