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Water Distributors & Collectors | YONGFAN
Custom Hydronic Headers · DN50–DN500 · 2–12+ Branches

Water Distributors & Collectors: Engineered for Low Velocity & Circuit Balance

Water distributors and collectors must match total flow, branch flow, pressure class and service layout; a poorly sized manifold can create branch imbalance, excess pressure loss or inaccessible piping.

YONGFAN manufactures custom supply distributors and return collectors (DN50 to DN500 main headers, DN15 to DN300 nozzles) in Q235-B, Q345R, SS304, and SS316L, engineered for ≤1.0 m/s internal header velocity.

Main Headers DN50 – DN500
Branch Nozzles DN15 – DN300
Header Velocity 0.5 – 1.0 m/s Target
Pressure Rating Up to 2.0 MPa
Custom fabricated hydronic water distributor manifold with flanged nozzles and instrument taps
Custom Fabricated Hydronic Headers Matched Mirrored Pairs · Sa 2.5 Polyurethane Coated · 05K232 Standard
01 / Hydraulic Analysis

Branch Imbalance Starts When The Header Is Treated as a Pipe with Extra Nozzles

If velocity inside the header is too high, pressure gradients along its length cause proximal branches to starve distant circuits. A distribution header must maintain low velocity to decouple branch interactions.
Hydronic distribution header with isolation and balancing valves
Low-Velocity Distribution

Why Low Header Velocity Eliminates Dynamic Cross-Talk

Per ASHRAE Hydronic Heating and Cooling, parallel networks require low header friction losses to avoid severe hydraulic imbalance between branches.

Undersizing Header Diameter

High fluid velocity creates a steep pressure gradient along the header, making flow balancing between near and far branches virtually impossible.

Impact: Severe branch flow starving & imbalance

Expecting Manifold to Balance

The manifold minimizes header pressure drop, but each branch still requires its own balancing valve or control valve for independent circuit flow regulation.

Impact: Missing branch flow control devices

Confusing with Low-Loss Header

A distribution header is not automatically a hydraulic decoupler. Primary-secondary decoupling requires dedicated volume and baffle geometry.

Impact: Hydraulic pump interaction across loops

Tight Branch Spacing

Branch spacing must allow clearance for valve handwheels, electric actuators, pipe flanges, and thermal insulation jackets (150–400 mm c-c).

Impact: Clashing valves & unserviceable piping

Five Engineering Variables for Custom Manifold Design

Fabricated in accordance with 05K232 & GB 150 standards.

01 Total Supply / Return Flow Rate
02 Branch-by-Branch Design Flow
03 Header Velocity ≤1.0 m/s
04 Working Pressure & Material Grade
02 / Custom Engineering

Fabrication Envelope: Custom Manifold Parameters

Every YONGFAN water distributor and collector is custom-fabricated from approved shop drawings matching plant-room single-line diagrams.
Specification Field YONGFAN Documented Range Engineering Sizing Impact
Main Header Diameter DN50 – DN500 Larger diameter reduces internal fluid velocity (0.5–1.0 m/s) at total flow
Main Header Length 500 – 6,000 mm Scales with branch count, nozzle diameters, service spacing, and end caps
Branch Quantity 2 to 12+ Nozzles Determines header layout, supply-return mirroring, and saddle supports
Branch Diameter DN15 – DN300 Sized individually to match design flow of each zone or terminal circuit
Branch Spacing 150 – 400 mm c-c Provides required clearance for flanges, actuators, valves, and insulation
Working Pressure 0.6 / 1.0 / 1.6 / 2.0 MPa Governs shell wall thickness, dished end pressing, and flange ratings
Metallurgy Q235-B / Q345R / SS304 / SS316L Matched to medium chemistry, chlorides, potable certification, and corrosion
Drain & Vent Ports DN20–DN40 Drain · DN15–DN25 Vent Bottom drain for sediment flush; top high-point port for manual/auto air vent
Instrument Taps M20 × 1.5 or G½” Pre-machined threaded sockets for temperature gauges and pressure transmitters

*Supplied as single vessels or matched mirrored pairs for aligned plant-room routing. Horizontal or vertical orientations supported.

03 / Application Layouts

Hydronic Routing: Typical Plant-Room Applications

Configuration guidelines for district substations, central chilled-water plants, boiler headers, and industrial process cooling.

District Heating Substations

Typical headers use DN200–DN400 mains with 4 to 8 branches to distribute secondary hot water to building blocks or riser zones. Operating temperature <100 °C.

Central Chilled-Water Plants

Common configurations use DN150–DN300 mains with 3 to 6 branches serving AHU groups, FCU risers, or dedicated server room cooling loops.

Multi-Boiler Heating Headers

Headers in the DN150–DN250 range balance flow among parallel modular boilers, recombining return water smoothly with minimal head loss.

04 / Procurement Protocol

Information Required for Manifold Fabrication Drawings

Do not order manifolds from “DN300, 6 branches” alone. Submit a branch flow schedule and connection orientation drawing.
STEP 01

Total System Flow

Total simultaneous design flow (m³/h) to calculate required header diameter.

STEP 02

Branch Flow Schedule

Flow rate, DN size, and service circuit name for every individual branch nozzle.

STEP 03

Pressure & Material

Working pressure class (0.6–2.0 MPa) and metallurgy (Q235-B/Q345R/SS304/SS316L).

STEP 04

Nozzle Layout & Spacing

Centerline spacing, nozzle direction, flange standard, and instrument socket taps.

Engineering Handoff

Submit System Schedule for Custom Manifold Sizing

YONGFAN application engineers will verify header velocity (≤1.0 m/s), generate 3D shop drawings, and provide competitive pricing.

Total Supply / Return Flow (m³/h)
Branch List: Flow & DN per Nozzle
Working Pressure: 0.6–2.0 MPa
Material: Q235-B / Q345R / 304 / 316L
Orientation: Horizontal / Vertical
Supply Scope: Distributor / Collector Pair
05 / Manufacturing Quality

Plate Rolling & 1.5× Hydrostatic Integrity

Fabricated in our 10,000 m² workshop with CNC plasma nozzle cutouts, full-penetration welding, and 1.5× hydrostatic testing.
Welding QA

Full-Penetration Nozzles

Automated submerged-arc welding on main shells; full-penetration nozzle welds with visual and penetrant NDT inspection.

Surface QA

Sa 2.5 Shot-Blasting

External surfaces blasted to Sa 2.5 profile before multi-coat polyurethane paint application (or primer for field insulation).

Pressure QA

1.5× Hydrostatic Hold

Every completed manifold is hydrostatically pressure tested at 1.5× design pressure for 30 minutes with zero pressure drop.

Traceability QA

Serial Nameplate

Every unit stamped with project code, design pressure, design temperature, material grade, and serial inspection log.

Lead Time: 15–25 working days standard carbon steel; 25–40 days for SS316L or mains >DN300. Trade Terms: EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR, and DDP export logistics supported globally.
06 / Engineering Knowledge

Water Distributors & Collectors FAQ

Direct engineering answers regarding manifold sizing, branch counts, balancing valves, and low-loss header operation.

What is the largest documented main pipe size?

YONGFAN fabricates custom manifold main headers up to DN500 with lengths up to 6,000 mm.

How many branches can one manifold have?

The standard fabrication range spans 2 to 12+ branches, customized to project circuit schedules.

Can I order a distributor and collector together?

Yes. YONGFAN commonly supplies supply and return manifolds as a matched pair with mirrored branch centerlines for tidy plant-room pipe runs.

Does the manifold include balancing valves?

No. Standard manifolds include pre-machined instrument taps and flanged/welded stubs. Valves and gauges can be quoted separately.

Can the manifold act as a low-loss header?

Only when specifically engineered and sized for hydraulic decoupling volume. Standard distribution headers should not be assumed to decouple loops.

What metallurgy options are available?

Q235-B, Q345R pressure-vessel steel, SS304, and SS316L are standard options depending on medium and chloride levels.

07 / Application Boundaries

Manifold Engineering Boundaries

Key rules for designing and installing hydronic distribution manifolds.
Boundary 01 / Header Sizing

Total Flow Velocity

Do not size the main header from the largest branch alone; size for ≤1.0 m/s internal velocity at total simultaneous flow.

Boundary 02 / Branch Balancing

Valves Still Required

Symmetric nozzle layout does not guarantee equal flow; project balancing valves are required on individual branch circuits.

Boundary 03 / Operating Limits

<100 °C / 2.0 MPa

Do not apply standard manifold construction above 100 °C or 2.0 MPa without an engineered pressure-vessel review.

Boundary 04 / Service Clearance

Coordinate Spacing

Ensure branch centerlines (150–400 mm) account for valve handles, actuators, and thermal insulation thickness.

08 / Engineering Handoff

Configure Your Custom Hydronic Distributor & Collector

Send your total flow, branch flow schedule, operating pressure, and plant-room single-line diagram. YONGFAN engineers will verify header velocity, generate 3D shop drawings, and provide submittals.

Main: DN50–DN500 Branches: DN15–DN300 (2 to 12+) Velocity: 0.5–1.0 m/s 0.6 / 1.0 / 1.6 / 2.0 MPa Q235-B / Q345R / SS304 / SS316L 1.5× Hydrostatic Tested
YONGFAN application engineers reviewing manifold shop drawings
Direct Application Engineering Support
Velocity calculation, nozzle spacing optimization & certified 3D CAD drawings.