Packaged System Design

Electrification of your DHW plant could be as simple as specifying a water heater with a resistance element.  However, this can be expensive to operate over the long term with a utility cost of approximately 4 times that of natural gas water heating.  Heat pumps utilize the properties of refrigerant gas to move heat into the domestic water from another medium, typically either air source or water source.  These systems can have lower recovery rates so typically larger storage tanks are used along with a resistance element for final heat back-up / top–up.  With Hubbell, PVI, and SHARC we can provide a comprehensive zero emission domestic water heating package designed for your application.

Riada has been a part of several solar thermal designs supplied to projects such as airports, schools, low income housing, and seniors housing.  Using the sun to heat water makes sense for projects with a high domestic water demand that are looking to reduce GHG emissions.  The biggest challenge with solar thermal systems is ensuring all components are sized & controlled correctly to avoid stagnation.  We can help select all components in the system to offer the best solar fraction without oversizing, and will include a dedicated solar controller with start up & commissioning by Riada to mitigate risk of stagnation.  System components include Apricus solar collectors, Resol controllers & pump stations, PVI or Hubbell storage tanks & final-heat water heaters, and ONICON energy meters. 

Using SHARC Energy systems alongside our high quality DHW storage tanks & water heaters, we can offer comprehensive alternate-energy domestic water heating plants.  There’s growing demand to reduce GHG emissions which is being driven by code as well as owner/developer preference. The cost premium to run medium to large scale electric resistance water heaters is significant, so the energy source for these domestic water heating needs to be considered.  Heat pump technology is being used in these situations due to its ability to offer 2-5x the efficiency of a standard resistance element.  Air source is often the first option that comes to mind, but challenges with ASHP’s include varying outside air temperatures, frost concerns, maintenance challenges, and architectural concerns.  Using wastewater as a source offers seasonally consistent temperatures, and the equipment can be hidden in a mechanical room freeing up space for rooftop patios, green roof space, etc.  It’s also recovering energy that’s already been put into that water on its way into the building, instead of letting that energy go down the drain! 

Riada can help size & select rainwater harvesting packages from QuantumFlo.  These systems include the pumps, controllers, mechanical filters, UV filters, injection ports, level sensors, pressure sensors, day tank, city water makeup connection with interlocked valves… even above-grade cisterns.  There are 4 main system configurations that are typically used, depending on whether the cistern is below or above grade, and whether there’s a day tank or not.  We can accommodate any of these system layouts and help select the best one for the job.  Selections include a full submittal, equipment schedule, and guide spec.