Balancing heating system

Lansdowneplumber

Hey everyone
Little about me, been in the plumbing industry going on 20 yrs. Run a small residential/ commercial plumbing shop (8 guys). Recently took on a fairly large job for us that uses reclaim water off of an ice plant to run some infloor heating loops.
Mech engineer specd B&G circuit setters along with Uponor commercial manifolds with flow meters for each zone. I'm struggling with wrapping my head around hot to properly balance this system.
My questions is: With the flow meters on each manifold does this make it so that the B&G circuit setters are not needed. Also when balancing each individual zone, do I need to make all zone flow as I am balancing?
Appreciate some feedback. Thank you

hot_rod

Engineers typically have numerous balance valves in a system to get it dialed in perfectly.
The balance valves assure the manifold itself is not over-pumped. The manifold balance valves are for individual loops.

You will need a pressure differential meter to dial in the Circuit Setter. An auto-balance vale is another option, chose the gpm that the engineer specs.
Or a Caleffi 132, which allow you to adjust and view the flowrate, without an additional meter.

HomerJSmith

manifolds with flow meters for each zone

What you mean is flow meters for each manifold circuit (Loop). One can have many zones with different heating needs and controlling devices.

The purpose of balancing is to ensure the flow is equal in all branches of the heating circuit. The BTU output of any circuit is based upon flow and Supply Water Temp. Not all circuits are created equal which is why balancing is important. It is said that water takes the path of least resistance. Different circuits have different pressure losses which implies greater or lessor resistances. Most of the water will flow thru the least resistive zone or circuit starving the most restrictive zones or circuits of flow and therefore BTU output.

There are balancing specialists who's job it is to balance complicated sys. It is a back and forth process, zones then manifolds then zones then manifolds. It all depends upon how your sys is configured.
Caleffi's Idronics magazine which is available online for free covers balancing, issue 8.