Principles of Equipment Room Space Planning and Equipment Layout
The space planning and equipment layout of an equipment room are the foundation of equipment room engineering. A reasonable layout can improve equipment operating efficiency and reduce O&M costs. Space planning: The minimum equipment room dimensions consist of four parts: equipment dimensions, operating aisle, maintenance aisle, and auxiliary space. Calculation formula: minimum equipment room length L = equipment length + operating aisle width (1000mm) + maintenance aisle width (600mm) + reserved space at both ends (200mm each); minimum width W = equipment width + aisle widths on both sides (1000mm + 600mm each) + lateral reserved space (200mm each). Minimum area of AHU room (including AHU, chilled water pipes, condensate pipes, etc.): small (air volume 5000-10000m3/h) not less than 15m2; medium (air volume 10000-30000m3/h) not less than 25m2; large (air volume 30000-50000m3/h) not less than 40m2. Minimum area of pump room (including fire pumps, sprinkler pumps, domestic water pumps, etc.): small (2-4 pumps) not less than 25m2; medium (4-6 pumps) not less than 40m2. Minimum area of electrical distribution room (including transformers, distribution cabinets, etc.) shall be determined by the number and power of equipment, generally not less than 30m2 (including 8-12 low-voltage distribution cabinets). Equipment layout principles: Equipment arrangement — large equipment (AHU, pumps, transformers, etc.) should be arranged along the long side of the equipment room (in a single row or L-shaped arrangement), with an operating aisle between equipment and wall (width not less than 1000mm) and a maintenance aisle between equipment (width not less than 600mm). Equipment foundations — pump foundation height 200-300mm (above the finished floor of the equipment room), with drainage trenches around the foundation (width 200mm, depth 100mm, slope 1% leading to the sump), and vibration isolation pads on the foundation top surface (rubber vibration isolation pads 10mm thick or spring vibration isolators). AHU foundation height 300-500mm (with condensate drainage slope at the bottom), with drainage floor drains around the foundation. Distribution cabinet foundation height 200-300mm (steel section foundation, 200mm above floor to prevent water immersion). Pipeline interface reservation — the positions of equipment inlet/outlet pipe connections shall be accurately marked before equipment installation (mark the pipe connection center elevation and flange face direction on the wall), with reserved pipe connection height deviation not exceeding ±10mm. Connections between pipe connections shall adopt detachable connections (flanges or clamps), and flexible joints (rubber flexible joints or stainless steel bellows compensators) shall be provided between pipes and equipment interfaces to reduce vibration transmission from equipment to pipes.
Key points of pipeline interface coordination in AHU rooms
The AHU room is the core of the hotel HVAC system, with a large number of pipeline interfaces (chilled water supply/return, cooling water supply/return, condensate water, fresh air duct, supply air duct, return air duct, exhaust air duct, etc.). The accuracy of pipeline interface coordination directly affects system commissioning and operating performance. AHU interface types and requirements: Chilled water supply/return interfaces — pipe diameter DN80-DN200, located on the AHU water inlet side (usually left or right side, depending on equipment model), interface elevation 200-300mm from the foundation surface (subject to equipment sample), with electric control valves (for water flow regulation) and butterfly valves (for maintenance) provided between pipes and AHU; the installation positions of control valves and butterfly valves shall be convenient for operation (valve handle height not exceeding 1.8m). Condensate water interface — pipe diameter DN25-DN50, located at the bottom of the AHU, with a trap required at the interface (water seal height not less than 50mm), condensate pipe slope not less than 2% (gravity flow to the nearest floor drain). Fresh air duct interface — located on the AHU air inlet side (usually at the end or side), interface size matching the duct (generally 800*400-1500*600), with electric air valves (for fresh air volume regulation) and manual air valves (for maintenance) provided between the duct and AHU. Supply air duct interface — located on the AHU air outlet side, interface size matching the duct, with flexible connections (fireproof canvas flexible joints, length 150-200mm) provided between the duct and AHU. Return air duct interface — located on the AHU return air side (usually at the top or rear of the unit), interface size matching the duct. Pipeline coordination requirements: The connection of all pipe interfaces to the AHU interface flanges shall be precisely positioned according to design drawings (deviation not exceeding ±10mm); rubber flexible joints or bellows compensators shall be provided between pipes and equipment interfaces (to reduce vibration transmission); the installation positions of valves and instruments (thermometers, pressure gauges) at pipe interfaces shall be convenient for observation and operation (instrument center approximately 1.5m from floor, valve operating handles pointing in a direction easy to operate). Pipe insulation — the insulation at chilled water pipe interfaces (including valves, elbows, flexible joints, etc.) shall cover all metal components (no exposed metal surfaces allowed); the insulation layer shall adopt rubber-plastic insulation (thickness 30-50mm, depending on pipe diameter), with a waterproof layer on the outer surface of the insulation (aluminum foil facing or FRP protective shell).
Key points for pipeline interface coordination in the pump room
The pump room is the power center for the hotel's fire water and domestic water. It has a large number of pipeline interfaces, large pipe diameters and high pressures, and the accuracy of pipeline interface coordination directly affects the operating efficiency and reliability of the pumps. Pump suction inlet interface: Suction pipe requirements — the pump suction pipe should be short and straight (to reduce hydraulic loss), and the horizontal section of the suction pipe should have an upward slope of not less than 0.5% (rising toward the pump) to prevent air accumulation in the pipe. Suction inlet layout — the straight pipe section upstream of the suction inlet shall be not less than 5 times the pipe diameter (to ensure uniform water flow into the pump impeller), and no valves should be installed on the suction pipe (a gate valve is installed only when the pump suction pipe needs maintenance, and the valve should be installed horizontally to avoid cavitation). Suction inlet reducer connection — when the pump suction inlet diameter differs from the suction pipe diameter, an eccentric reducer (eccentric reducing pipe, flat on top to prevent air accumulation) should be used. Pump discharge outlet interface: Discharge pipe stop valve — the discharge pipe should be provided sequentially with a rubber flexible joint (vibration isolation), butterfly valve (operating valve), check valve (to prevent reverse rotation), and gate valve (maintenance valve), with spacing between valves of not less than 150 mm (for ease of operation and disassembly). Pressure gauge on the discharge pipe — installed between the pump discharge outlet and the check valve (with a gauge siphon and plug valve upstream of the pressure gauge), with a pressure gauge range of 2–2.5 times the working pressure. Installation orientation of the flexible joint — the rubber flexible joint should be installed horizontally (not subject to bending from pipe self-weight), and the flanges at both ends of the flexible joint should be concentric with the pipe (deviation not greater than 2 mm). Pipeline support arrangement — the suction pipe should be provided with independent supports (not relying on the pump for load bearing), and the discharge pipe should be provided with a support 500 mm after the first elbow or valve from the pump (to share the pipe weight); supports should be provided separately from the pump foundation (to avoid transferring pipe stress to the pump). Pipe pressure testing — after all pipes are installed, a hydrostatic test should be carried out (test pressure 1.5 times the working pressure and not less than 0.6 MPa, held for 30 min without leakage); only after passing the test may pipe flushing be carried out (flushing velocity not less than 1.5 m/s until the outlet water is clear).
Pipeline interface coordination for the power distribution room and generator room
The power distribution room and generator room are the core areas of a hotel's electrical power system, where the safety and reliability of pipeline interface coordination are subject to the highest requirements. Power distribution room pipeline interfaces: Cable entry/exit interfaces—high-voltage cables (10kV incoming lines) are laid in cable trenches (trench size 600*600mm, with cable supports inside at 300mm spacing), and low-voltage cables (0.4kV outgoing lines) are laid in cable trays (installed at least 2.2m above floor level, routed along walls). Connection between cable trenches and distribution cabinets: Cable trenches shall have cable entry openings provided below the distribution cabinets (opening dimensions determined by the number and cross-section of cables); after cables enter the distribution cabinets, they shall be securely fixed and sealed (fire-stop sealant plugging). Grounding system interfaces—a ring grounding busbar shall be provided in the power distribution room (40*4mm copper busbar or hot-dip galvanized flat steel, installed along walls at 0.3m above floor level); all distribution cabinets, transformers, cable trays, cable trench supports, etc. shall be reliably grounded (grounding conductors no smaller than 16mm2 copper core wire). Generator room pipeline interfaces: Cooling water pipe interfaces—diesel generators require cooling water (cooling methods include air cooling and water cooling); water-cooled generators require cooling water pipes (DN50-DN100, hot-dip galvanized steel pipe material), with cooling water supply and return pipe connections located at the rear of the generator (no less than 500mm from the wall). Exhaust pipe interfaces—generator exhaust pipes (DN100-DN200, stainless steel or seamless steel pipe material) shall be routed to the outdoors (silencers shall be provided on exhaust pipes; exhaust outlets shall be no less than 2.5m above ground level and no less than 3m from combustibles); the indoor portion of exhaust pipes shall be insulated (rock wool pipe shells, thickness 50-80mm). Fuel pipe interfaces—generator fuel supply and return pipes (DN15-DN25, seamless steel pipe material) shall be laid in floor pipe trenches (trench size 200*200mm, with explosion-proof cover plates); flexible hose connections (explosion-proof metal flexible hoses) shall be provided between fuel pipes and generator interfaces. Exhaust air duct interfaces—generator heat dissipation exhaust air ducts (cross-section dimensions determined by generator power) shall be routed to the outdoors (rain-proof louvers at exhaust outlets, filter screens at air inlets). All pipeline interfaces shall be provided with maintenance valves or disconnect points (to facilitate equipment repair and replacement), and interfaces shall be clearly labeled (indicating pipeline name, flow direction, design parameters, etc.).