Get to Know PICV Valve in Air-Conditioning System

Efficiency is one of the most important thing to be concern of whether you are system designers, system installers, builders, service department even on large scale factories.

Air conditioning system (HVAC System) is another opportunity to reduce energy consumption if the specific equipment is used.  If system designer and installer know how to install and understand how each component work properly, this can make cooling system work more efficient and reduce energy consumption.

This article will introduce you to the intelligence valve PICV that will help balance water in air conditioner while cooling it intelligently.

What is PICV?

PICV stands for Pressure Independent Control Valve. This intelligent valve can act as both PICV and balancing valve, however in everyday used, it is called in a generic name as PICV. This intelligent valve will be use as a replacement to old style valve such as Manual Balancing Valve, Automatic Balancing Valve and 2 Way Valve in order to eliminate some restriction of old style valve.

Development of Balancing Valve

Balancing valve is used to adjust Flow Rate of water in Terminal Unit in the air-conditioning system. If there is no balancing valve, Terminal Unit near the pump will receive too much flow rate and will cause unwanted cold in the room. Valve of each type are Manual Balancing Valve, Automatic Balancing Valve and PICV.

1. Manual Balancing Valve

Balancing Valve is developed from Manual Balancing Valve to automatic balancing valve to help solve the problem of water balance. When one Manual Balancing Valve is adjusted, the flow of water in other valves is affected.

Limit of Manual Balancing Valve

Lower flow rate in one of Manual Balancing Valve will affect flow rate of all the other valves in the system, larger amount of valves in the system enlarge and amplified effect on flow rate, this leads to less control of system flow rate.

2. Automatic Balancing Valve

Automatic Balancing Valve is developed to replace Manual Balancing Valve to solve the problem flow rate adjustment by adding another component called Differential Pressure Regulator. This device can maintain water pressure throughout system, the valve will increase-decrease flow rate simultaneously to maintain the flow of water in cooling system. 

Limit of Automatic Balancing Valve

Automatic Balancing Valve can maintain flow rate throughout the system however, this work contradictory with 2-Way Control Valve. In reality, Terminal Unit wants Flow Rate to vary as temperature of the room is control as desired. When every 2-Way Control Valve lowers the Flow Rate, Automatic Balancing Valve will adjust the Flow Rate to initial Flow Rate.

The installation and use of Cartridge is limited because of the need to fit the Cartridge to match the size of the valve. Different in cartridge size means different in Flow Rate and Pressure. Moreover, with cartridge,  the maximum Flow Rate cannot be adjusted.

3. PICV

Pressure Independent Control Valve is intelligent valve that developed to fix the problem found in Automatic Balancing Valve.

Highlights of PICV

1. PICV can resolve and eliminate the problem of 2-Way Control Valve and Automatic Balancing Valve. PICV is a mixture of Automatic Balancing Valve, 2-Way Control Valve and Differential Pressure Regulator. This make flow rate constant and it can vary according to needs.

2. The valve is made into a single piece. This makes installation a lot easier and completely eliminates the need of Cartridge while Automatic Balancing Valve still need one.

3. PICV has a large different in Pressure range so it can be applied to almost every point in the building.

4. aCn adjust flow rate as needed just by steering the wheel on the valve.

11 Comparison between Manual Balancing Valve, Automatic Balancing Valve and PICV

Conclusion

Specification of PICV as state above show why this intelligent valve replace the old type of valve. The features of this intelligent valve help contractors to easily install valve without the need to change Flow Rate multiple times after installation. Furthermore, PICV is easy to look after, support expansion of building in near future without a need to readjust all the valve in the building.

If you are interested in PICV or cooling system in your building, please kindly contact us here. We are more than happy to give out advice about this intelligent valve.