Looking beyond the boiler room
All too often, the installer’s attention stops at the boiler room: the reasoning is that if everything is running smoothly there, the most important part is done; the rest is just details. However, that is too simplistic. Without a properly functioning boiler room, an efficient system is of course impossible, but there is more to it than that. The distribution system must also be correct, and in a water-carrying system that means hydraulic optimisation. As systems become more complex and more components are added, the importance of a sound hydraulic design increases. 
A poorly tuned system leads to a loss of comfort. People will want to compensate for this by adjusting the heating curve and/or extending the running time of the heat generator. However, both of these measures result in higher energy consumption, whilst it remains to be seen whether the loss of comfort has actually been resolved. In a hybrid system incorporating different technologies, matters become even more complex. A sound design is therefore essential to ensure that all components perform to their full potential. During the design phase, a clear philosophy must be established regarding how the system should ideally operate, and this philosophy must then be translated into the control system.

Heating and cooling
Finally, there is the issue of cooling. Summer comfort is becoming increasingly important, whilst heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling. Modern hydraulic systems must therefore be designed to operate in both directions. This presents its own challenges, as the temperature differences and flow rates differ between heating and cooling modes.