EXPANSION VESSELS
MARK MOGEY, HEAD OF OEM SALES UK AND ROI, EXPLORES THE ROLE OF FLOW THROUGH EXPANSION VESSELS AND THEIR ROLE IN PREVENTING HARMFUL BACTERIA BUILD UP IN POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS...
Howdo flow through expansion vessels work?
Mark Mogey, Head of OEM Sales at Altecnic.
WHAT IS A FLOW THROUGH EXPANSION VESSEL? Flow through expansion vessels are designed to keep potable water moving through a system in order to prevent any stagnation or contamination. When stagnation or contamination occurs, it is more likely that harmful bacteria such as Legionella can develop. The innovative design encourages flushing through the vessel, greatly reducing the opportunity for clusters to form.
forces the bladder to collapse until the pump is started when the bladder starts to inflate. As the temperature in the system increases, with the associated increase in pressure and volume, the expanded water enters the bladder, creating additional volume and lowering the pressure. When the temperature decreases, the pre-charge pressure forces the water from the bladder and back into the main water circuit.
vessel. It does this by keeping the water flowing continuously through the bladder and also allows isolation should the expansion vessel ever need to be removed. It also allows for a drain facility as well as a bypass. The PVACC Flowjet valve is supplied as an optional component with a Altecnic Reflex flow through vessel. HOW DOES LEGIONELLA BECOME PRESENT IN A SYSTEM? As the pressure in a system changes, the pre-charge pressure will allow water into the expansion vessel or force it out again. Unless the temperature and pressure change significantly, it is likely that the same water will remain in the bladder of the vessel for a considerable time. This leads to the risk of growth of harmful pathogens, such as Legionella.
HOW DO FLOW THROUGH VESSELS HELP TO PREVENT LEGIONELLA & PSEUDOMONAS?
HOW DO FLOW THROUGH VESSELS WORK?
When fitted with the PVACC Flowjet valve, the flow-through vessel assists in preventing Legionella growing in the system. The Flowjet valve has been designed to prevent stagnation or contamination in the expansion
In a closed hot water circuit, the water cannot be compressed so any increase in volume, created by an increase in temperature, has to be accommodated by an expansion vessel. When water is cold, the pre-charge pressure
“When stagnation or contamination occurs, it is more likely that harmful bacteria such as Legionella can develop.”
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64 | PLUMBING & HEATING MAGAZINE
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