North Central NEBB Recertification Seminar

By: Miles Ryan, P.E. / October 9, 2025

Doubletree Hotel
2540 North Cleveland Ave
Roseville, MN 55113

The Bypass Pipe’s Balancing Valve and Minimum Flow Control

A bypass pipe in a hydronic system, typically accompanying a 3-way control valve, needs a balancing valve. This is often overlooked during design, construction and balancing of the system. The fundamentals of why this valve is needed will be presented. Additionally, several case studies detailing the second order effects that can occur when the valve is missing, will be presented. One primary reason for the valve is for the role is plays in minimum flow control. This presentation will further discuss the challenges in achieving proper minimum flow control for hydronic systems.

Miles Ryan is a senior commissioning engineer at Questions & Solutions Engineering in Chaska, MN. As an Air Force Reservist, he is on faculty at the Air Force Institute of Technology where he teaches courses on HVAC control systems, HVAC design and analysis, and plumbing. He writes a monthly column on Commissioning for Engineered Systems Magazine.