I have reviewed thousands of mechanical designs in my career. There is no doubt in my mind that every mechanical design includes a pump detail with a triple duty valve that provides shut off, balancing and prevents backflow. Consequently, I assumed that triple duty valves are always required on a pump discharge.
I recently prepared a central chiller plant balancing course for the TAB Advanced Air and Water course. The session includes the procedure for balancing the chillers and pumps. I assumed that balancing would include using the triple duty valves to adjust the flow.
EAB has balanced hundreds of chilled water systems. I sought out the seasoned veterans of these balancing exercises and reviewed the procedure being taught. I received some affirmations and some suggestions, but I also learned that triple duty valves do not work. They are difficult to get an accurate reading, they are not easy to adjust, the balancing position cannot be conveniently marked and after being outdoors or an unconditioned space for a few years, they seize solid. The vehement dislike of triple duty valves by EAB’s senior TAB professionals made me conclude that some salesperson did a great job of getting their product added to the standard pump detail many decades ago and no one ever asked if they work.
The reason you want to take training at EAB is because we know what works and what doesn’t work. That vast body of field knowledge is incorporated in all our training.
By the way, the chiller butterfly valves are used to balance the chilled water flow. They are reliable and the final position is scored onto the valve body. The pump’s triple duty valves are left untouched.
– Bill Chalmers
If you were like the rest of the TAB/Cx industry this summer, you were seeking talented, dedicated, and more importantly, trained professionals due to the volume of work. For many, the amount of work has not followed the typical easing that we see going into the winter months. As these trained individuals become more in demand than ever, it’s easy to see why the classes at the EAB Training Center have a steady flow of new and returning faces. For many companies, who do not have the available resources, to do much beyond the standard on the job training, this can put a strain on the most valuable resource for firms, which is their people.
When additional strain is placed on existing team members, it often stems from increased workloads, limited resources, or the need to train new staff without adequate support. This can lead to burnout, reduced morale, and compromised work quality. For up-and-coming team members, the lack of structured training or mentorship due to this strain can result in an incomplete education, leaving gaps in skills, knowledge, or practical experience. The overall result is the entire company suffers at differing levels.
EAB Training provides the ability to quickly enhance a new professionals capability in a short amount of time without putting strain on an your most valuable team members. This is where the value in training truly begins to pay off. Students leave with a more complete knowledge of their craft, confidence, and more importantly they receive this knowledge in a short amount of time. I have had several company owners tell me that they see the value in our training because they can advance their techs abilities in a week which normally would take them 4-6 months to achieve. Building a more complete professional, in a shorter amount of time, is what we do here at EAB Training.
– Derek Glenn