Heat Loss Hub

Buffer Flow Visualiser

See what happens inside a 4-pipe buffer tank when the heat pump flow rate and heating flow rate don't match. This visualiser shows how water blends and how it affects emitter flow temperature and heat pump return temperature.

Inputs

°C
°C
L/min
L/min
°C

Examples

Flows matchedFlows matched
4-port bufferno blendingstraight transferPrimary ΔT: temperature difference between the heat pump flow and return.ΔT 5.0°CPrimary heat transfer: estimated thermal power transferred by the water in the primary circuit.7.0 kWHeatpumpHeating ΔT: temperature difference between the heating system flow and return.ΔT 5.0°CHeating heat transfer: estimated thermal power transferred by the water in the heating circuit.7.0 kWEmittersPrimary flow20.0 L/min @ 45.0°CHeat pump return20.0 L/min @ 40.0°CHeating flow20.0 L/min @ 45.0°CHeating return20.0 L/min @ 40.0°C
hotter water cooler water

Flows matched

The heat pump and heating circuit are moving the same amount of water. No blending occurs inside the buffer, so the heating flow temperature and heat pump return temperature remain unchanged.

Summary

Scenario
Flows matched

Primary circuit

Flow
20.0 L/min
Primary ΔT
5.0 °C
Heat transfer
7.0 kW

Heating circuit

Flow
20.0 L/min
Heating ΔT
5.0 °C
Heat transfer
7.0 kW

This is a simplified educational tool designed to explain flow matching and blending in a 4-pipe buffer arrangement. It does not replace a full hydraulic design or manufacturer-specific system assessment.