New product family: fresh water stations Reflex Hydroflow

What is a fresh water station? Advantages of the solution

Fresh water station is an appliance for the preparation of domestic hot water (c.w.u.) in a flow-through manner - that is, heating water upon request, without accumulating it in a large tank. In practice, this means that the water is heated when the tap is turned on, passing through a heat exchanger supplied with water from the heating system. This design ensures that each time you get a fresh water, without long-term storage at temperatures conducive to microbial growth. As a result the standard of hygiene is significantly increased c.w.u. - Flow water preparation effectively protects against the proliferation of bacteria, such as Legionella. It is therefore hygienic alternative for a traditional boiler or hot water cylinder.

The advantages of fresh water stations also include high comfort the use of hot water. Since the device responds instantly to the intake, the user does not have to wait long for hot water to flow into the tap - it is heated quickly and exactly when it is needed. Compared to storage heaters, it eliminates heat loss in storage, and compared to electric instantaneous heaters, it is much more energy efficient, as it uses the existing heating system. Moreover, the lack of a large c.w.u. it's space saving in the boiler room, which can be important when space is limited.

Operating principle and application of Reflex Hydroflow

Fresh water stations Reflex Hydroflow are modern flow devices that work with an external heat source and a buffer tank. Operating principle consists in transferring heat from heating water (circulating in the central heating system) to domestic water through a heat exchanger. The scheme of operation of the station is as follows: when the flow sensor detects the intake of water (such as turning on the tap), pump in the station starts the circulation - it draws hot water from the buffer and pumps it through the plate heat exchanger. At the same time, cold water from the network flows into the other side of the exchanger, where it is heated in the flow from the hot plates of the exchanger (separating the two circuits). As a result, heated domestic water of the set temperature immediately flows out of the station's output. Temperature sensors monitor the achieved parameter and transmit the information to the regulator, which controls the operation of the pump (and, in some models, the control valve) so as to maintain the set temperature level c.w.u. After giving up heat, the cooled water from the heating circuit is returned to the buffer tank, ready to be heated again. The entire process takes seconds and takes place only during the actual water intake - other than that, the station remains in standby mode, not using energy to maintain the temperature of a large mass of water.

The above arrangement consists of compact set of components built in a thermally insulated housing. Inside there is plate heat exchanger, high quality circulation pump, sensors (temperature and flow) and control system with control panel. For proper operation of the station, a separate buffer tank heating water (which stores thermal energy) - this can be, for example, a Reflex Storaflow storage tank with the appropriate capacity, with which Hydroflow forms a complete system. Importantly, the heating and drinking water never mix - they are separated by an exchanger, so the drinking water remains clean and meets sanitary rigor. For additional hygienic protection, Reflex Hydroflow stations have an implemented thermal disinfection program - Periodic automatic superheating of the system to eliminate potential bacteria in the system.

Applications. With a variety of models with different capacities, Reflex Hydroflow stations are used in a wide range of facilities - from single-family homes to large buildings. Due to their high standard of hygiene, they are especially recommended where sanitary requirements are stricter, such as in hospitals, clinics, schools or other public facilities. They are also successful in traditional residential buildings - residents of single- and multi-family houses will appreciate the comfort of continuous availability of hot water without fear of legionella. The Hydroflow system is universal in terms of heat source - can work with a gas boiler, oil boiler, heat pump, solar system or other heating system, provided it is integrated with a suitable buffer. In addition, not having to keep many hundreds of liters of domestic water on standby translates into better energy efficiency and lower operating costs in such facilities.

Reflex Hydroflow model overview (XS, S, M, L, XL)

The Reflex Hydroflow family includes five models fresh water stations: XS, S, M, L and XL - from smallest to largest. Individual models vary in performance and design, allowing you to choose a solution that is appropriate to the scale of your installation. Hydroflow XS is equipped with a thermostatic controller, while the four larger models have electronic control with advanced control system. In addition, the largest variants (L and XL) have built-in fittings (m.in. supply/drain ball valves) and can optionally be retrofitted with a circulating module c.w.u.â. All models are adapted to work with buffer tanks of appropriate capacity - in the case of L and XL, larger buffers (from ~800 l upwards) are recommended due to their higher power output. The following is a brief overview of each model, including typical applications, power and throughput:

• Reflex Hydroflow XS - the smallest station on offer, designed to small domestic installations (e.g., single-family house, apartment). Its control system is based on a thermostatic mixer, which maintains the set water temperature. Nominal power reaches approx. 60 kW, which translates into performance to 25 l/min heated water. The XS model is compact and can serve several consumption points simultaneously in a typical home. Requires connection to a buffer tank with a capacity of at least 500 liters. Assembly is possible both wall-mounted, as well as directly on the tank buffer - depending on the layout of the boiler plant.

• Reflex Hydroflow S - small/medium size model, suitable for larger houses or small multi-family buildings (e.g., 2-4 apartments) or guesthouses. It is equipped with electronic controllercontrolling the operation of the pump, which ensures precise temperature control. Its power is approx. 70 kW, and the maximum capacity is 29 l/min hot water. Like XS, it can be mounted on the wall or on a buffer (≥500 l). Hydroflow S will perform well where the demand for c.w.u. is moderate, but at the same time high hygiene is required (e.g., small kindergartens, clinics, nursing homes).

• Reflex Hydroflow M - medium model designed for installations with higher water consumption, such as multi-family buildings, small hotels, sports facilities (locker rooms with showers), etc. It has full electronic automation that controls the exchanger and pump. The nominal power is about 100 kW, and performance reaches 41 l/min under proper power supply conditions. Requires a buffer tank min. 500 liters; optional circulation module for circuit c.w.u. is available as a separate accessory (mounted outside the station). Hydroflow M already provides a significant amount of hot water on demand - it can handle several bathrooms used simultaneously.

• Reflex Hydroflow L - large fresh water station designed for high demand facilities on c.w.u. It can serve, for example, a medium-sized hotel, a larger residential building (several apartments), a school, a nursing home, etc. It is equipped with an electronic control system and factory integrated some fittings (m.in. safety valve and shut-off valves). Its nominal power ~127 kW allows you to get up to 52 l/min hot water. The recommended heat buffer for this model is a larger tank (for example. 800-1000 liters or more) to provide a stable source of energy. Hydroflow L offers the possibility of mounting on the tank (left side mounting as standard) or on the wall if the appropriate connection kit is used. If you need to maintain circulation c.w.u. in the building, an internal circulation module is available (as an optional extra installed in the station).

• Reflex Hydroflow XL - largest model, designed to very large installations and commercial facilities. It will work well for supplying c.w.u. e.g. large residential buildings, hotels, sports halls or hospitals (as a component of a central exchanger). The Hydroflow XL has a power output of 190 kW, which allows you to prepare up to 80 l/min hot water. The equipment includes full electronic automation and extensive internal fittings similarly to the L model (shut-off valves, possibility of building in a circulating pump, etc.).). A sufficiently large buffer tank (at least ~800-1000+ liters) and a power supply with high thermal capacity are required. The XL model, due to its size, is usually mounted on the floor or on a dedicated rack at the buffer (wall mounting is not always practical due to the weight of ~27 kg plus pipes). However, it provides maximum efficiency - at peak demand, it can serve multiple consumption points simultaneously, comfortably supplying hot water even in demanding systems.

All Reflex Hydroflow models - from XS to XL - are characterized by compact, modular design and very flexible installation. The stations are factory-assembled, complete units of the type plug-and-play, requiring only a connection to the heating and water circuit. It is possible to install wall-mounted (e.g., on a wall-mounted console) or directly on the buffer tank - station housings are designed to be installed on Storaflow tank flanges, simplifying the connection layout. Such freedom allows to save space and adjust the configuration to the conditions of the boiler room. In addition, in the case of very high demand for c.w.u., hydroflow stations can be cascaded together - parallel operation of two or more devices increases the total system performance almost proportionally. Thus, even as demand grows, you can expand the system with another station instead of replacing the entire heater with a larger one.

Model comparison table

The key technical parameters of each Reflex Hydroflow model are summarized below. Power nominal and performance (flow c.w.u.) apply to standard conditions - cold water temperature approx. 10 °C, heating up to 45 °C, with heating water supply of temp. 65 °C. All stations have a permissible operating pressure of 10 bar and a maximum heating water temperature of 95 °C. The variants "CU" and "SST" indicate the type of exchanger (copper or nickel brazed - your choice).

It is worth noting that the real capacity of the station depends on the parameters of the heat source - in the case of a lower supply temperature (for example, with heat pumps ~50 °C), the maximum throughput will be correspondingly lower. Nevertheless, even at lower supply temperatures, Hydroflow stations retain their hygienic advantage and can be used to provide safe hot water (if necessary, a larger exchanger or cascade system can then be provided to achieve the required capacity).

Summary and additional information

Preparation stations c.w.u. Reflex Hydroflow provide a complete system for supplying hot water in a manner of safe, hygienic and effective. Thanks to flow heating, they eliminate both the problem of energy loss in water storage and the health risks associated with bacterial growth in the storage tanks. A wide range of models (XS-XL) allows you to choose a device for almost any type of installation - from a small house to a large communal facility - and the ability to combine several stations gives you scalability for the future. Installation and integration into the heating system are facilitated by standardization and optional accessories (plug & play).

Take a look at the full family of products Reflex Hydroflow in our WKM online store.