Water Outlet Group

The Water outlet group component is used to group Water outlet components and connect them to a Water heater. Water outlet groups are placed on the demand sub loop of a DHW loop as shown in the screenshot above.

To add new Water outlets to a Water outlet group first navigate to the Water outlet group and then use the Add water outlet toolbar option. You can edit the details for each Water outlet by right clicking on it in the Water outlet group screen image and selecting the Edit drop down menu option.

Drain Water Heat Exchanger

Drain water heat exchanger type

The heat exchanger type to be used for drain water heat recovery. The options are:

1-None indicating no heat recovery is to be simulated.

2-Ideal sets a heat exchanger effectiveness of 1.0.

3-Counter flow where effectiveness is calculated dynamically

4-Cross flow where effectiveness is calculated dynamically.

One popular type of drain water heat exchanger is the Gravity-Film Heat Exchanger (GFX). The GFX is most closely approximated with the 3-Counter flow option, but keep in mind that the UA varies more with flow rate for the GFX than for most traditional heat exchangers.

Drain water heat exchanger destination

The heat exchanger configuration to be used for drain water heat recovery. The configuration determines where the heat will be used after it is recovered. The options are:

• 1-Plant which indicates that the all of the recovered heat will be sent to the return flow at the outlet node of the Water outlets to preheat the make-up cold water from the water mains.
• 2-Equipment, indicating that the all of the recovered heat will be used to preheat the cold water flow side of the Water outlets listed in this Water outlet group
• 3-Plant and Equipment, indicating that the recovered heat will be divided between the plant and the Water outlets, as described above. This is the only option where the flow rates are equal in the drain and the heat exchanger.

Drain water heat exchanger UA

The UA is the heat transfer coefficient (in W/K or Btu/h-F) for the heat exchanger. It is the product of U, the overall heat transfer coefficient, and A, the heat exchanger surface area.