Got a story? Ring us on 01732 748041 or e-mail twood@unity-media.com WATERHEATING,TANKS&CYLINDERS Cylinders: hard wearing and practical Jason Hobson, MD of Gledhill, looks at the specification considerations of unvented hot water cylinders... The UK is notorious for having a huge range of house types and the variety of housing stock that creates such choice for homebuyers also means there is no such thing as a one-size-fits all solution for domestic hot water cylinders. It’s that need to provide off-the-shelf models able to meet a variety of installation requirements that has helped to drive unvented cylinder product development at Gledhill. Offering a wide variety of storage capacities, sizes and shapes, the range has been designed to reflect both the design diversity of British homes, past and present and the developing trend towards hot water systems that connect to renewable energy installations, with models specifically designed for use with heat pump or solar technology. ROBUST SOLUTIONS Providing an ideal solution for both new build and replacement applications, especially where multiple bathrooms necessitate higher water pressures, unvented cylinders represent a large portion of the WWW.HPMMAG.COM UK hot water cylinder market. Product development not only needs to respond to trends in how contemporary homes are designed, but also has to reflect the energy sources that supply them, the latest updates to building regulations and the drive towards more environmentally-friendly specification. One of the key features for all unvented cylinders is the need for a robust and corrosion resistant construction that can withstand the required water pressures and provide a long and efficient service life. Another key consideration for the installer when selecting a cylinder is the ease of installation and handling on site. For the end user, meanwhile, long-term performance is a high priority. Effective insulation to prevent heat loss is critical to the cylinder performance and energy efficiency, and our Stainless Lite unvented cylinder not only provides one of the lowest heat losses on the market, but with a corrugated tube heat exchanger rather than a plain tube, it provides 20% faster recovery for better performance. A diverse housing stock calls for a diverse range of hot water cylinders and frequently various sizes are required for different property types on the same development from a single supplier with a comprehensive cylinder range. Increasingly, it’s not just the size and space restrictions of a property that need to be factored into the specification, but also the combination of energy sources used to heat the water. Renewable energy technologies require unvented cylinders specifically designed to maximise the water heating potential of the energy source, thereby minimising reliance on mains power. To answer this need, Gledhill has incorporated a range of solar and heat pump models into our Stainless Lite range. Comprising both direct and indirect unvented solar options, the solar models all feature a high performance solar coil, which ensures that the maximum level of heat is transferred from the solar circuit to the stored water for increased efficiency. Similarly, heat pump installations require a cylinder specifically designed to maximise the lower temperatures available. To ensure the maximum efficiency of the heat pump is achieved, it is essential that the heat exchanger has a low pressure drop, high KW output and ability to accept high flow rates through it, FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES The market’s requirements for high performance, hard wearing and practical cylinders is constantly evolving and, as renewable technologies become an increasingly significant factor in managing energy costs and carbon obligations, specification of renewables-compatible cylinders looks set to grow. Indeed the proposed introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive in spring 2014 is poised to kick start growth in this market segment as the financial rewards of retrofit installations add to the running cost and environmental benefits they offer. It’s a growing trend that Gledhill has been watching and preparing for over a number of years, with recent investments in our Blackpool factory enabling us to bring our cylinder pickling process in-house, increase our manufacturing capabilities to meet ever growing customer demand and allowing us to continue to develop our hot water cylinder range in line with market requirements. All this is in addition to stocking the ten nationwide depots with core stock, enabling them to deliver next day and the service of collecting same day from the depot. enquiry number 135 The Gledhill Stainless Lite range incorporates both solar and heat pump models 50 FEBRUARY 2014 HEATING & PLUMBING MONTHLY
HPM February 2014
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