Introduction

From your morning hot shower to the daily cup of coffee, hot water plays an important
role in our everyday lives. Hot water is a necessity not only for domestic uses but also for
commercial uses, such as in hotels and hospitals. Hence, functional hot water system is
essential to meet the needs of different buildings from residential houses to high rise buildings.
There are many different types of hot water supply systems which can be separated
into two main categories, localised and centralised system. These both systems are the
methods they distribute the water, and are then branched out to meet each personalised
requirements. Localised system is mainly for domestic use which emphasise more on its
small-scaled instantaneous yet affordable heating system. On the other hand, centralised
system has an advantage of having a large storage to accommodate its huge demand while
having efficient pipework to deliver to each drawing-point. Moreover, the awareness of going
green has gradually become more wide-spread globally and thus solar heating system has
been chosen as an alternative source of water heating.

Hot Water System

Many aspects have to be taken into considerations when the designer is planning the
hot water system layout. This is to ensure the suitable type of system is incorporated into the
different buildings to meet the different requirements of what it was to be used for.
Here are some deciding factors that should be considered when determining the
suitable type of hot water system for the building.

Required consumption

Peak demands

Type of installation (local or central)

Required storage capacity

Methods of heating water

Insulation of pipework

Further actions that has to be taken to minimise future problems

Types of Hot
Water Supply
System

Localised

Centralised

Instantaneous
single points

Storage type
single points

Direct

Electric water
heating

Gas storage
heaters

Others

Indirect

Boiler-cylinder
system

Instantaneous
system

Solar heating

With expansion
vessel

The multi-port

Vented storage

The waterjacketed tube

heater

Unvented storage

The combined
primary storage
unit

Localised hot water distribution system

A localised system is a system single-point heater located above a sink which heats up water
to suffice its local needs. Commonly, the water is heated using gas and electricity as its fuel.
In some cases it also comes with a small storage vessel but mostly its instantaneous system
will be engaged. A long distribution pipe is necessary for this system to reach out to all of the
drawing points. This means a long wait might incur during peak periods. It also has a greater
risk of fire.
There are two types of localised systems:

Instantaneous

single

points

These heaters are usually located directly

above the sanitary appliances and its water
flow can be controlled through the inside.
They are also powered by either gas or
electricity. It does not require any storage
and the heating process only begins when
desired. After the water has flowed into the
heater, the electric heating element will
quickly heat up the water surrounding it.
The temperature of the water will be
directly proportional to the power rating of
the heater and the water flow rate. By
sensing the water flowing through the
heater through a flow switch inside,
electrical contacts are transferred to the
immersion heater element to convert it into
heat energy.

Localised system (Blackwell Publishing, 2006)

Storage type single points

These heaters are located near a sink and have a capacity not more than 15 litres. The
stored water is heated by an electric element until the water has expanded enough to
discharge from the discharge spout. Cool water from the base of the unit will then replace
the hot stored water that has discharge out. As after the discharging of hot water the water
will soon cool down again, it is only suitable for small quantities of draw off as the hot water
which can be discharged is limited.

Centralised hot water distribution system

3

On the other hand, the water in a centralised system is heated in a hot storage vessel, a boiler
or a small gas circulator. They are connected by supply pipework and circulatory pipework.
The instruments are placed in a position where it is able to reach to every draw-off points of
the building through a system of pipework.
In a centralised system, the water is heated in the storage vessel and boiler that is located in
an appropriate position of the building. The water is fed to and fro from the boiler by what it is
called as primary flow and return pipes. This water circulates throughout the whole system by
convection or the aid of circulating pumps.
Moreover, the temperature of the water stored inside the storage vessel should not exceed
60C. If the temperature drops below 60C, health issues will arise as Legionella bacterias
survival time increases. An easy way to eliminate this risk is to install a thermostat to monitor
its temperature.

Direct hot water supply

A direct system heats the water in its storage cylinder and transfers heat directly to the
surrounding water. In a direct system, there are chances where precipitation of limestone
will occur when heated. This precipitation will then clog the boiler and the nearby pipeworks.
Therefore, direct system is only suitable to be used in areas of soft water. This system
could lead to damages or even explosion and is not suitable for hot water central heating.
The following are some examples of the various types of centralised direct hot water
system.
Electric water heatingA system having an immersion heater installed in the hot water storage vessel. When
its thermostat senses a certain temperature, the heater automatically switches off. The
heater should be at least 50mm measuring from the base of the storage vessel to avoid
unwanted sediment disturbance.
Gas storage heatersThe stored water are heated directly with gas burner installed below it. It incorporates
an open flue to convey exhaust gases out to the external environment.

Boiler-cylinder systemThe hot water from the boiler is distributed via primary flow and return pipe. However.
It should not be used in hard water areas to prevent pipework blockage.
4

Centralised instantaneous system (Blackwell

Publishing, 2006)

Centralised direct system (Blackwell Publishing, 2006)

Instantaneous systemo

The multi-pointThis system contains a gas burner which is placed under the heat exchanger. When
hot water is required, the water will start circulating through the heater. When this
happens, they will be a sudden reduction of water pressure. This pressure difference
will open the gas line and starts heating.

The

water-jacketed

tube

heater

(thermal

storage

system)

This system is a typical instantaneous system equipped with stored supply of central
heating water. As the water heats up, the water will expand and is retreated to an
expansion chamber.
o

The combined primary storage unit (CPSU)

This system comparing to the water-jacketed tube heater, differs only at this is
combined into the boiler without needing extra hot water storage vessel.

Indirect hot water supply

An indirect system consists of an expansion, a
calorifier (or hot water storage vessel) and a
heat exchanger. Water from the boiler in the
primary pipework is passed through a cylinder
containing the heat exchanger, performing a
continuous circulation of water to heat up the
water. The closed circulation of water can
prevent clogging by limestone as there is no
new water input and the water in this circulation
does not mix up with the water in the calorifier.

Indirect system (Greeno, 1997)

Indirect hot water cylinder (Blower, 2002)

Indirect hot water system with expansion vessel

(Greeno, 1997)

Expansion vessel (Greeno, 1997)

Additionally, secondary circulation is needed to prevent dead legs and therefore

reducing in wastage of water. The secondary flow pipe must be avoided from having
6

excessive lengths and reverse circulation can be prevented by non-return valve if

pump is not running and water is drawn off. The secondary circulation carries
continuous flow of hot water but loses heat at the period of circulation.
Indirect hot water system with expansion vesselIt is more economical when an expansion vessel is connected to the primary
circulation instead of expansion and feed cistern, expansion pipe and boiler feed
pipe. There is a temporary connection of the primary circulation to the water main.
A volume of nitrogen is used to absorb water expansion and is separated from
water by a diaphragm.
Vented storage hot water supply systemThe vent pipe which is included in this system is let open to the open air. Its function
is to allow the expansion of hot water when heated without increasing the pressure
of the system. Without its vent pipe, the storage vessel might burst causing flood.
Previous versions of this system made the vent pipe to discharge out through the
top of the roofs. However, most of the system nowadays has it over the top of a
cold water storage cistern with a return bend.
Unvented

storage

hot

water

supply

system-

This type of system does not require high level cisterns. They supply both the cold
and hot water at the same pressure and instead of using large pipes, smaller pipes
may be used. The storage cylinder must be able to tolerate the main pressure and
overheating of the hot water. Overheating of water in this system could lead to
explosion and this is why this system is prohibited in some countries such as the
UK.

Vented storage hot water supply

system (http://www.home-heatingsystems-and-solutions.com/openvented-cylinders.html)

Unvented storage hot water supply system (Greeno, 1997)

Others

Solar heating of water

This system is made up of feed and expansion cistern, hot-water cylinder and solar panel.
Solar panel (Solar collector) is installed at the roof to collect sufficient amount of solar energy
for water heating. In some buildings, a small pump is used to enhance the circulation. Usually,
in the solar panel, there are copper sheets with waterways attached and they are backed by
insulation.
The copper sheets are protected externally by one or two layers of glasses which allow solar
radiation to penetrate freely. The solar panel is linked to the indirect hot water system and
some space is needed for heat exchanger. Measures have to be taken by adding in antifreeze
to the circulating water to prevent freezing. Reverse circulation and heat loss to cold night sky
must be prevented in order for the system to function properly. As solar heat couldnt provide
continuous supply of hot water on its own, immersion heater can be added for additional
heating of water, which means that both sources of heat work together. The solar circuit and
the boiler-fed coil can be in one cylinder or in separated cylinders. In this case, the solar coil
supplies preheat the water and the boiler-heated cylinder will heat the water to the final or
required

temperature.

This

system depends largely on the

external weather condition for
better functioning.

Installation of Hot Water

Solar hot water supply (Greeno, 1997)

Supply in High Rise Building

The installation part of a hot water supply are easily understood through theoretical studies
but when it comes to practical, it is a lot more complicated when you are installing the piping
for the entire high rise building. High rise building are buildings which are normally 10 stories

high and above. We can imagine the amount of pipes connecting up from the water supply at
the ground floor and penetrating into each floor. It is because there are waste water pipes,
storm water pipes, air-conditioning vent in the building which looks alike and which we need
to carefully identity and handle.
There are few considerations to be taken in order to achieve a well-planned installation. First
and foremost, the developer has to decide which type of hot water supply to use in the building.
There are two types; centralised or localised of hot water supply are suitable for high rise
buildings. Different high rise buildings have different purpose, like in a hotel. It is more
convenient and efficient to have centralised hot water supply. Centralised hot water supply is
designed to heat the water in a centralised water boiler tank and distribute to consumers in
the building. For this installation, it is suitable for building where water consumption is high like
hotels. During the vacation peak season, hotels are mostly fully-booked and occupied. The
consumption of hot water is at its peak, and this is the time where a centralized hot water
storage tank shows a great contribution. Centralised hot water system can store a huge
amount of hot water in the tank waiting to be consumed by the customers. Localised hot water
supply is designed to be installed in specific places where hot water supply is needed. For
example, in a multi-storey office building, the consumption of hot water is low. It is because
office is usually only for people to work so, they do not consume much hot water. They only
need hot water when making a cup of hot coffee or washing their hands when needed. But
there are some office buildings that allow people to take shower and the hot water is only need
for that specific situation. Although there are people taking the shower, the consumption of
water only increases slightly compare to hotels consumption.
It is possible for any building to use any type of hot water supply but when it comes to
considering the efficiency of the system used. Centralised hot water supply is usually suitable
where there is high consumption of water. If a localised hot water supply is replaced with
centralised hot water supply, it will result in an expensive cost for installing each and every hot
water boiler for every rooms needed. On the other hand, replacing a localised hot water
system with a centralised hot water system will result in an excessive hot water storage and
during the preservation of hot water, components of the hot water storage will tend to fail as
time goes by.
During the installation of hot water supply, developer or contractor will normally install
insulators to protect the piping. Insulator is a soft material like a sponge, and it keeps the pipes
from frost or prevent from hurting others by burning others arms. It is because during the
winter, the room temperature is very low and non-peak season. Hotels arent so actively been

10

used, many piping will become frosted due to lack hot water travelling through those piping.
Hot waters that stay in the pipes will become ice if we did not wrap the pipes with insulators.
Another important consideration is choosing the right materials for all the piping in the building.
The right material chosen will give great benefits in the long term run. The cost of maintenance
will reduce dramatically by installing good and durable material pipes. There are a few
materials that is generally used in the industry; Copper, Cross-link Polyethylene (PEX) and
Polybutylene (PB).

Copper is a metal material which is very high in thermal

conductivity. It is commonly used in the industry due to its
low cost and easily obtained from hardware store. The
lifespan of copper is also one of the great advantages
which require less maintenance. Piping are normally
hidden and covered with different finishes; a low
maintenance material will ease the user for a long period
of time. People normally only change the pipes after buying

Copper pipe

old houses which are more than a decade old.

Cross-link Polyethylene also known as PEX, is a hightemperature resistant and flexible plastic pipe. Using PEX
as piping materials will eventually speed up the whole
installation process. The flexibility of PEX will allow the
contractor for ease of installation although the structure
of the house is complicated. The cost of this material is
also reasonable. However, the high temperature resistance have a limit of 100oC for any
significant length of time.

11

Lastly, Polybutylene also known as PB is a plastic resin

material that is low cost and is easy to install. In the early 90s,
this product is commonly used in the overseas country.
However, as years goes by, this product was found not to be
resistant to oxidants. This product is no longer popular after
the discovery of poor chemical resistivity.
PB pipe

As for our case, hotels normally incorporate copper piping as it is durable and not so costly.
Using copper may also give advantage in the preservation of hot water during non-peak
season.
Installation of hot water supply at hotels widely uses centralised hot water storage which
places the hot water storage tank on top of the building or installing a reasonable size of
storage tank at every 10 levels. Due to the water pressure needed to pump the water, installing
several storage tanks every 10 levels will increase the water pressure compared to pumping
the cold water to the top floor and boil the water on the top floor and let the hot water flow
throughout the whole building. Building centralised hot water storage on top floor maybe
expensive due to the electricity usage of keeping the temperature of hot water. We
recommend installing hot water storage at every 10 floors due to cost savings and eco-friendly.
This way of building installing the hot water supply will give a consistent temperature of hot
water supply to the user in that range of floor.
Zoning valves will also be installed at every floor for safety purpose. Zone valves are designed
to be installed at the main pipe before pipes separating to every rooms in that particular floor.
Stopping the zone valve will block the supply of water to the specific floor. This will allow the
maintenance work need on those piping in that specific floor.

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MAINTENANCE
It is crucial to carry out periodic hot water supply systems maintenance as it can significantly
extend the systems life and control the loss of efficiency to be at minimum.
First of all, monitoring the temperature of the hot water supply system is one of the most
essential maintenance to ensure the hot water supplied is at a suitable temperature. For hot
water supply systems in hotels, which are circulating hot water supply systems that are of
larger scales, there will be principal loop, which will supply hot water to a group of outlets, and
the smaller loops are known as subordinate loops. Furthermore, there will be localized loops
in the hot water systems in hotels which can be identified as tertiary loops which supply hot
water to a smaller amount of outlets. Monitoring temperature should be conducted at sentinel
points, which are points that are specifically selected to represent the condition in the system
(HSE, 2014). Monitoring the temperature at selected sentinel points should be carried out
every month ideally in order to ensure the hot water to be at a suitable temperature.
Besides, water softening should be carried out at the connection in between cold water supply
to the hot water system. Although light scale formation on the inner surfaces of pipes can
prevent leaching of metals, heavier deposits are more likely to happen in hard water areas
(HSE, 2014). These deposits will increase the surface area and can cause microbial
colonization, which will then cause the water to be infected by microorganisms. Water
softening should be carried out to reduce the risk of scale being deposited at the base of the
calorifier and heating coils, and the potential of formation of scale within the system pipe work
and components which will reduce the flow significantly and cause a huge impact on the
efficiency of the system (HSE, 2014).
Furthermore, the calorifiers should be inspected internally by removing the inspection hatch
and if there is no inspection hatch, the initial flush from the base of hot water heaters should
be collected and to be inspected for the clarity, quantity of debris, and temperature (HSE,
2014). This inspection should be carried out annually and the frequency has to be increased
as indicated by the risk assessment or whenever the result of inspection findings is not
satisfying.
Moreover, since chlorine will be used in the water system for disinfection purposes, the amount
of chlorine should be inspected quarterly every year to ensure the concentration of chlorine is
at a suitable range of 0.5 1.0 mg per liter (HSE, 2014). If the chlorine concentration is over
the preferred range, it will cause a lot of health problems to the users, such as skin infections,
irritations, and etc.

13

Last but not least, water samples at final outlets should be collected randomly on a weekly
basis for inspection purposes. This has to be done to ensure that the hot water supplied
contains no contamination and all the required elements in the water are of suitable dosage.
If the inspection shows that there is contamination or the elements in the water is overdosed,
further inspection has to be carried out throughout the entire system, especially on the storage
and piping system and essential repair should be conducted in order to prevent any possible
harm and to prolong the hot water supply systems life and maintain the efficiency of the
system.

14

Advantages and Disadvantages

According to the hot water supply system for high rise building, commonly they are
using indirect hot water system. There are some advantages in using indirect hot water supply
system.
Indirect system
Separate circuit for the water drawn off at taps
Used in hard water areas to prevent scaling of boiler and pipes
Used when heating is combined with the system
Less maintenance cost

Other than indirect hot water system, we also have direct hot water system. There are also
some advantages in using direct hot water supply system.
Direct system
Water through the boiler can be drawn off for the taps
Saves the cost of a storage and expansion cistern and associated pipework
Heat quicker
Adequate pressure on the main
Sealed primary circuit can be pumped or can circulate by natural convection
Besides that, they is also vented and unvented hot water system. They also have their
own advantages and disadvantages.
Unvented system
Provide hot water constantly at main pressure
No requirement for a cold water storage tank
Extra pipework to link it up
Give greater flexibility to the design of taps, mixers and shower heads
Less installation cost

Need specialist installation

Installation fees expensive than the traditional vented system

Rely on automatic control (require periodic maintenance)

Will run out of water

Very inconvenient
15

Vented system
Less complicated
Easier to install
Cost less to buy and maintain
Can be two type (indirect and direct vented system)

Require cold water storage tank

Types of water heater

There are several different types of hot water heaters such as conventional storage
water heaters, tankless or demand-type water heaters, heat pump water heater, solar water
heaters, tankless coil and indirect water heaters. Different types of water heaters have some
advantages and disadvantages:
Conventional storage water heater
Low product cost and low installation cost
Inexpensive and widely available in a variety of sizes (for replacement)
Instant hot water (provide hot water faster)

Higher utility bill (it heat and reheat the water)

Can run out of hot water

Storage space needed

Less durable

Tankless or demand-type water heaters

Energy savings / Operating Cost

Lifespan

Compact size (space saving)

Durable

Can be shift easily

The unit never run out of hot water

Limited Output

Expensive for initial cost

Best performance come from gas units

16

Tankless coil
Does not required tank
Most efficient during cold weather

Inefficient for those in warmer climate

Solar Water Heater

Use the free energy of the sun to heat your water

Lower monthly electric (or gas) utility bills

It is suitable at our country cause our country is tropical climate

Renewable (no fuels required)

Non-polluting

Lower maintenance fee

High efficiency

High initial cost

Installation is complicated

High maintenance cost

Heat pump water heater

Big volume of hot water
Long lifespan
Low maintenance cost
Very convenient (can be installed indoors and outdoors)
Anti-freezing
Safe and eco-friendly (no burning, no gas)
Efficiency

High initial cost

Sizes of heat pump could be big

Quality are various

Indirect water heater

Efficient choice for most home
Saves energy
Can be fired by gas, oil, propane, electric or solar energy
Efficient life span (made of stainless steel)

Required storage tank

17

Problems in Hot Water Supply System

Hot water supply system may have some flaws in its design and result in problems in its
function. There are several defects that may occur in hot water supply system.
1.

Air locks
Air locks when air enters into the system either through a cylinder vent, when the tank
runs low and when the water is heated. So when there is air in the system, it will rise and
accumulate at high points which will cause restriction of water flow. Air may also be
trapped where pipes have fall or dips in reverse direction and this also causes water flow
to stop.
In order to eliminate air locks in the water pipes, sufficient pressure is required to push
the air through the pipe. The pipes will need be drained and refilled or by blowing through
the pipework. Another way is to design the hot water system by placing vent points in
which pipes will rise to so that air can escape through the vents.

18

2. Noises
Generally, noises may occur in high pressure systems, in primary flow and return pipes or
in the boiler. These noises occur due fluctuations in velocity of water flow which causes the
pipes to vibrate and make knocking or hammering sounds. Knocking or hammering
usually occurs in metal pipes but it can also happen in plastic pipes. It can also result from
water expansion due to corrosion of pipes. These pipes will need to be descaled or replaced
with new pipes. Besides that, noises are one of the main defects in boilers. The noises
result from inadequate flow of water or unsuitable design.
There are few methods to reduce and prevent the occurrence of noises in hot water
services:
a)

Pipes should not be in direct contact with building structure

b)

Use rubber insulated clips to clip over pipes

c)

Pipework should be fixed rigidly to prevent movement

d)

Design suitable size of pipework to avoid excessive velocity water

3. Poor water flow

Air locks, clogged pipes, mineral clogging in the water tank or tankless coil or insufficient
water supply and even air drawn through the vent can cause poor flow of water in the hot
water services. If air is drawn into the system through vents, a larger cold feed pipe can
be inserted or the storage cistern can be raised so that the pressure of water flow will
increase. The increased pressure will then be able to push and eliminate the entrained air
and therefore, increase water flow.

4. Insufficient hot water

Lack of hot water supply may stem from unsuitable size of hot water cylinder or boiler,
excessive primary flow and return pipes, leakages, air locks or poor quality fuel used for
heating water. Insufficient hot water may also be due to mineral deposits and blockage in
a hot water tank.

19

5. Leaks
Boilers used for heating water and pressure relief valves are susceptible to leaks. These
boilers should be regularly checked every 15-20 years. Leakage in boilers, pressure relief
valves or expansion vessel will result in loss of pressure. Leakages in boilers happen due
to the corrosion of pipes and problems in the boiler limit control. Thermal expansion in
closed water system will cause leaks from the pressure relief valve periodically.

6. Overheating and failure of heating element

Immersion heaters and the thermostats also need to be checked. The thermostats may
get faulty over time. So, if the thermostats give wrong temperature readings, the hot water
supply will not be very efficient. The boiler or water heater will continue to heat the water
even though the maximum temperature has reached. Sometimes, mineral deposits may
build up on the heating elements thus damaging them.

7.

Back siphonage
Back siphonage is the backflow of water due to the existence of negative pressure, which
is below the atmospheric pressure, in the supply pipework. This phenomenon occurs due
to the excessive demand of water by user or when there is water supply failure. Under
some circumstances such as when suitable precautions do not exist in the system, content
in the sanitary appliances might flow back into the supply pipework and creates unwanted
problems. The risks of back siphonage are contamination risk, health risk and water quality
affecting risk. In order to prevent back siphonage, certain precaution measures such as air
gap to separate supply pipework from the installation pipework.

FUTURE IMPROVEMENT
20

We studied on the improvements of the water heater system. The defects in hot water supply
system can be repaired and regularly checked to enhance the supply of hot water in a building.

For the electrical water heaters; inspection, diagnosis and repair can be done. If one
heating element on the electric water heater has burned out, expect more rapid hot water
(the lower element is still working but the upper one is disfunctional) or less quantity of hot
water (the upper element works and the lower one is disfunctional).

Install extra tanks to increase hot water; pre-heat the hot water absorbing ambient building
heat or increase hot water quantity with cascaded, staged, multiple water heaters, possibly
using more than one energy source. Adding extra tanks can improve both temperatures
(water is pre-heated) and quantity of hot water.

Hot water delivery time can be increased by installing hot water pump and recirculating
loop systems for instant, hot water system which are incorporated in large buildings. This
wont give you a higher water temperature overall but it will reduce the time between
turning on that hot water faucet and when hot water appears.

Hot water pressure loss and insufficent hot water may be due to blockage at the water
heater or mineral clogging in plumbing fixture. In order to fix this, the cold water supply
and plumbing fixture needs to be checked for any blockage. Installing extra hot water tanks
can improve the water pressure and even the flow and volume of hot water that can be
supplied to a whole building. Also, if the initial source of water heater is for example,
tankless coil, which does not provide adequate pressure and quantity of hot water,
installing a separate water heater such as gas fired water heater or an instantaneous water
heater can solve the problem and also reduce cost at the same time.

Case study I (Local)

21

Ruemz Hotel

Ruemz Hotel@Taylors Lakeside Campus

On 12th of November, 2014, at 2.30 p.m., we paid a visit to Ruemz Hotel which is located at
the Syopz Mall, the commercial block of Taylors University Lakeside Campus. Every member
took this opportunity to have a look at the type of hot water supply system installed in the hotel.
Ruemz Hotel has 84 hotel rooms and has been operating for approximately 4 years until now.
It is well known for its idea being a unique hotel-in-a-campus concept.
We were brought to one of the hotel rooms by Muhammad Izzat Ilyasa bin Shihabuddin, who
is the maintenance staff of Ruemz Hotel. Mr. Izzat showed us the water storage heater which
is located above the ceiling of the bathroom. According to Mr. Izzat, each of these water
storage heaters has the capacity of 135 litre and each hotel room is allocated with one. He
compared it with the standard 60-70 litre domestic water heater that can be found in residential
areas to show how high the hot water supply hotels require to maintain its business flow. By
then, we can safely deduce that the system this hotel uses is localized instantaneous water
storage heater powered by electricity.

22

There are two pipes connected to the water heater. One is the blue ABS pipe which carries
blue water and another is a copper pipe which carries hot water to every draw off points in the
room. The stored water is heated by an electric element until the water has expanded enough
to discharge from the discharge spout. Cool water from the base of the unit will then replace
the hot stored water that has discharge out. As after the discharging of hot water the water will
soon cool down again.

ABS pipe and copper pipe

According to Mr. Izzat, the problems faced in this hot water supply in the hotel is mainly that
sometimes, the electricity will trip due to overheating of the water heater coil element. The
23

standard temperature of the hot water supplied is between 60C to 75C. In normal cases, the
thermostat in the water heaters will observe and detect the water temperature to gauge it to
be around that optimal range. This is to prevent damages on the heaters internal components.
However, the thermostat may become faulty due to wear and tear and fail to accurately detect
the temperature of water thus, causing the water heater to overheat.

Group photo with Mr. Izzat

Case Study II (Overseas)

24

Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel @ Bangkok, Thailand

Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel started operating since 22nd July, 1983 and currently, the hotel
has a total of 726 guest rooms and suites. It is located at 2 Charoen Krung Soi 30, Siphya,
Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand. (Royal Orchid Sheraton, 2014)
Originally, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel uses a hot water supply system which is made up of
2 boilers, where 1 of them is used as a stand-by boiler. The boiler is capable of producing 5
tons per hour each to produce steam for domestic hot water supply, kitchen and laundry
services (SETAtWork, 2009). The average fuel consumption of a boiler was about 2,000 liter
per day (SETAtWork, 2009). The system supplies hot water using 5 hot water generators
which use steam as heat source. The temperature of domestic hot water supply is controlled
at around 55C. The average hot water consumption is about 95m3 per day at 70% occupancy
(SETAtWork, 2009).
When the price of fuel oil was increased to about USD0.70 per liter in 2008, the hotel has
decided to use Solar Water Heating System as shown in Figure 2 in order to save energy cost
(SETAtWork, 2009). The sola++r water heating system consists of 360m2 flat plate solar
collectors, two hot water storage tanks where each of them has a capacity of 23,000 liters,
circulation pumps, and a control system. The system can produce about 24,000 liter of water
per day at an average temperature of 55oC (SETAtWork, 2009) and it is installed on the
concrete roof top.

Figure 2: Schematic Diagram of Solar Water Heating System used in Royal Orchid Sheraton
Hotel

Differential thermostat is used in the Solar Water Heating System to determine when the
circulation pumps need to be switched on. When the temperature of solar collector is about
25

10oC higher than the water temperature in the storage tank, the circulation pumps will be
switched on and the pumps will be switched off when the temperature difference is around
5oC (SETAtWork, 2009). The hot water from the storage tank will flow into existing hot water
generators and will be discharged to the existing hot water piping system.
However, one of the biggest concerns about Solar Water Heating System is that the weather
plays a significant role in the system. In order to ensure that there is always enough hot water
supply in the storage tank, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel has also installed 5 units of heat pump
to produce additional hot water to the hot water storage tank. Each unit has a capacity of
producing around 2,000 Liter of hot water at 50oC per unit (SETAtWork, 2009). The heat
pumps will only start to operate once the temperature of solar heated water is below a set
point, which usually happens in the evening and night time.

Figure 3: Heat Pumps Installed on the Roof Top of Royal Orchid

Sheraton Hotel

Learning Outcomes

26

Through this assignment, we were able to determine the types of systems in hot water
services and understand the differences between each system and the installation and
requirements of the different types of hot water supply system. Besides that, we were able to
identify the advantages and disadvantages of each different types of system, and also
problems that may be encountered in hot water supply system. Knowledge of the benefits and
problems can help us to determine how to choose the right hot water supply system which is
to be installed in a particular building. Not only that, it also enables us to determine how to
properly maintain the system so that we can avoid and prevent problems in the system and
thus, have a better, functional and long-term hot water supply system. As the technology is
improving, we were able to identify several improvements that could be made to hot water
supply system in order to enhance the system and eliminate or reduce problems in the system.
We had the opportunity to visit Ruemz Hotel as a part of our case study. From this case
study, we were able to understand how does an instantaneous water heater looks like and
also where it could be located in building. This case study enabled us to understand better
about the application of different types of hot water system according to the requirements of
the building.

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