Data sheet

Automatically balanced combination valves

AB-QM

Description

AB-QM valve is an automatic balancing valve
- flow limiter.
Typical applications are: Automatic (adjustable)
flow limitation on terminal units (fan-coils, chilled
ceilings, Air-handling units..) or branches. It is
recommended to be used in constant flow systems.
AB-QM valve equipped with an actuator is a
control valve with full authority and automatic
balancing valve - flow limiter.
Typical applications are: Temperature control and
permanent automatic balancing on terminal units
(fan-coils, chilled ceilings, Air-handling units..).

Benefits  “Plug and Play” even when installation is

 The AB-QM is able to control the temperature not yet completely finished. For example
at low loads and is equally stable all through when some floors are already occupied
the range. while construction is still going on at other
 All changes in the available differential floors, the occupied floors are already fully
pressure are corrected by the pressure functional and balanced.
controller. Therefore, less disturbances
for temperature control and further less Simplifications
movements from actuator.  Flow limitation is achieved by setting the valve
 AB-QM offers full flexibility of adjustment
to required flow - Set & Forget.
 Flow is the only parameter to be considered,
– AB-QM valves can be set to a precise design
value – they allow full control over the real so easy and fast valve selection.
 Maximal setting of AB-QM corresponds
conditions in the system.
 Due to the membrane design the valves are
with the maximal flowspeed through that
pipe dimension according to international
not susceptible to blockage.
 Always the right flow, so no complaints from
standards.
 Easy troubleshooting
endusers or excessive energy consumption
 No control ratio calculation
 Because the AB valve covers two functions
 No authority calculation
– Balancing & Control - the installment costs
 Commissioning is a matter of adjusting the
are halved
 Measuring nipples (optional) allow
valve without using specialised equipment or
highly educated staff.
optimisation of the pump’s energy
 Compact design allows instalment where
consumption.
 100% built in control valve authority allows
only limited space is available, for example in
standalone fan-coils.
lower pump head than traditional setup, thus
minimizing energy consumption.
 Because of the automatic flow limiting
function, commissioning costs are
nonexistent.
 Easy adjustability allows late change of design
flows without high costs.

SIBC VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 1

Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Applications - variable flow systems

Air handling unit (AHU) / fan coil (FCU)

An AB-QM with an actuator can be used as a
combined flow limiter and control valve with
full authority for an AHU (Air Handling Unit). The
AB-QM ensures the required flow on every AHU
and simplifies the hydronic balancing of the
system. Because of the integrated differential
pressure controller the control valve always has
100% authority which means that partial load
in the system has no influence on temperature
regulation as it will have with normal control
valves. By installing AB-QM the whole system
is divided in independent control loop zones
not influencing each other. The flow setting is
very simple. Just set the required flow for the
AHU direct at the AB-QM. There is no special
method needed for balancing the whole
systems. This means a lot of savings in working
hours. Not to forget the combination of several
functions in one valve body means less valves
and installation work. For temperature control
AB-QM can be equipped with different actuators
(on/off, 3-point, 0 -10Volt) as required.

Chilled ceiling

AB-QM in systems with chilled ceilings are used

to achieve the required flow in the system and to
control the temperature. An AB-QM is installed
at every chilled ceiling limiting the flow. The
integrated control valve is used for temperature
control by mounting an actuator. Different types
of actuators can be used.

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Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Applications
- constant flow systems

AB-QM can be used as an automatic flow
controller if a system with an AHU/fan coil is run
with constant flow (system with 3-way valve).
There is no special balancing method needed.
The flow can be set directly at the AB-QM.
Alternatively the system can be changed into a
system with variable flow because AB-QM is also
able to work as a control valve with full authority
which means no problems with partial load.

In a one pipe heating system the AB-QM can be

installed as an automatic flow controller in every
riser. The AB-QM limits the flow to the set value,
thus automatically achieving hydronic balance in
the system.

There are numerous applications in which AB-QM can be used. In principle every time you need an automatic
flow controller or a control valve with full authority it can be used. For example systems with heating/cooling
with concrete core activation or small substations.

SIBC VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 3

Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Ordering AB-QM
Qmax. External External
AB-QM DN Code No. AB-QM Code No.
(l/h) thread thread
10 LF 150 003Z0251 003Z0261
G½A G½A
10 275 003Z0201 003Z0211
15 LF 275 003Z0252 003Z0262
G¾A G¾A
15 450 003Z0202 003Z0212
20 900 G1A 003Z0203 G1A 003Z0213
25 1700 G 1¼ A 003Z0204 G 1¼ A 003Z0214
AB-QM can not be upgraded to AB-QM
with nipples! 32 3200 G 1½ A 003Z0205 G 1½ A 003Z0215

Set-pack (one MSV-M and one AB-QM without nipples)

External thread
Type DN Qmax. (l/h) Code No.
ISO 228/1
10 275 G½A 003Z0241*
15 450 G¾A 003Z0242
20 900 G1A 003Z0243

* Includes MSV-M DN15 with external

25 1700 G 1¼ A 003Z0244
thread G ¾A 32 3200 G 1½ A 003Z0245

Accessories & spare parts

Comments
Type Code No.
To pipe To valve
Union connection R 3/8 DN 10 003Z0231
(1 pcs.)
R 1/2 DN 15 003Z0232
R 3/4 DN 20 003Z0233
R1 DN 25 003Z0234
R 1 1/4 DN 32 003Z0235
Welded nipple Weld. DN 15 003N5090
(2 pcs.)
Weld. DN 20 003N5091
Weld. DN 25 003N5092
Weld. DN 32 003N5093
Tailpieces for soldering 12x1 mm DN 10 065Z7016
(2 nuts, 2 gaskets,
2 soldering nipples 15x1 mm DN 15 065Z7017

Locking ring 003Z0236

Shut-off & protection piece (max. closing pressure 16 bar) 003Z0230
Shut-off - plastic (max. closing pressure 1 bar) 003Z0240

Combinations AB-QM with electrical actuators

Valve type Stroke TWA-Z** ABNM-Z AMV(E)-H 01/02
(mm)
Recommended ordering code numbers
(for details refer to data sheets for these actuators)
082F1226 082F1094 082H8001
10.4 ±0.3

NC, 230 V Thermal actuator AMV 01/24 V,24 s/mm,

24 V (0 - 10 V) 3-point control
082F1072 082H8003
Adapter for AB-QM AME 01/24 V,24 s/mm,
(M30 x 1.5) 0 - 10 V
Closing point (measure)
AB-QM DN 10 - 20 2.25   
AB-QM DN 25 - 32 4.50 * * 
* up to 60 % of Q max
** Please be aware that only this type of TWA actuator is to be used with AB-QM

Closing pressure for all actuators: 6 bar.

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Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Technical data 10 15
Nominal diameter DN 10 15 20 25 32
Low Flow Low Flow
Qmin (20%) 30 55 55 90 180 340 640
Ranges l/h
Qmax (100%) 150 275 275 450 900 1700 3200
Diff. pressure (p₁ - p₃) 0.16 - 4.0 bar; (16 - 400 kPa) 0.2 - 4.0 bar
Pressure stage PN 16
Control range > 1:50
Control valve’s characteristic Linear
Leakage acc. to standard IEC 534 max.0.01 % of k v at 250 N

Flow medium Water and water mixtures with secondary coolants (like glycols)*
for closed heating and cooling systems
Medium temperature °C -10 ... +120
Stroke mm 2.25 4.5
Connection external thread (ISO 228/1) G ½” G ½” G ¾” G ¾” G 1” G 1¼” G 1½”
actuator M30 x 1.5
Material In the water Valve bodies Brass (CuZn40Pb2 - CW 617N)
Membranes and O - rings EPDM
Springs W.Nr. 1.4568,W.Nr. 1.4310
Cone (Pc) W.Nr. 1.4305
Seat (Pc) EPDM
Cone (Cv) CuZn40Pb3 - CW 614N
Seat (Cv) CuZn40Pb2 - CW 617N
Screw Stainless Steel (A2)
Flat gasket NBR
Sealing agent Dimethacrylate Ester
(only for valves with measuring nipples)
Out of the water Plastic parts POM
Insert parts and outer screws CuZn39Pb3 - CW 614N;
W.Nr. 1.4310; W.Nr. 1.4401
* according suitability and usage especially in not oxygen tight systems please mind the instructions given by the coolant
producer

Operation principle The AB-QM is a control valve combined with a

differential pressure controller. The differential
pressure controller maintains a constant pressure
over the control valve independent of varying STROKE
conditions in the installation. Because of this 100%
construction the flow is automatically limited to
a specified value and the control valve has an 80%
authority of 100%.
Q=kv[%]* P2 P3
Flow limitation 50%
If you have a constant differential pressure across
an orifice with a known resistance (kv value) you
can determine the flow with the formula:
Q � kv � �p
Because the AB-QM limits the differential Q,Kv
pressure (Δp) across the control valve to a 50% 80% 100%
constant level it follows that the flow through
the AB-QM is also limited.To function properly
the AB-QM needs a pressure difference of at
least 16 kPa. By limiting the stroke of the control
valve, the maximal flow through the valve can be
adjusted.
If the kv-value of the control valve is halved, the
flow is also halved. Because the AB-QM has a
nearly linear chracteristic to have half the flow
you need half the stroke (see figure 1).

SIBC VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 5

Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Operation principle Authority As an example we take two valves in a

(continued) The valve authority can be defined as: The
resistance across the fully opened control valve,
divided by the total resistance in the system
(valve, pipes, heat exchanger etc.).
Rvalve
A�
Rvalve � Rsystem
Usually the authority should be 0,3 (30%) as
high as possible to guarantee sufficient control
quality. The resistance in the sytem is variable
because it depends on the flow. If the flow
is reduced, the resistance in the system also
drops. Normally the control valve would have to
compensate for this by closing even further, thus
causing a distortion in the valve characteristic.
Because the AB-QM has a built in differential
pressure controller that keeps the differential
pressure across the control valve constant, the
effect of this decrease is compensated. It is
therefore possible to assume that Rsystem is
zero. The formula then becomes:
Rvalve
A� � 1 �100% �
Rvalve
The AB-QM therefore always automatically
ensures 100% authority which provides stable
control and therefore increase confort and saves
time consuming calculations to check the valve
authority.
normal HVAC system, one close to the pump
(position 1) and the most distant valve (position
2). Both valves have the same differential
pressure potential (the pump head) but the
pressure drops between:
- Control valve (abrivated as CV),
- balancing valve (abrivated as BV) and
- other elements (abrivated as OT; such as pipe,
terminal units ect.)
are distributed differently. With the valve closer
to the pump the pressure drop in the pipes
(OT) is much smaller. The differential pressure
controller (BV) ensures however that the working
conditions for both control valves (CV) are the
same.
If we look at a situation where we need only
20% , can see that the pressure drop in the
pipes (OT) becomes smaller when the flow is
decreasing.This effect is much bigger for the
distant valve because the pressure drop in
the pipes (OT) is bigger to begin with. The
differential pressure controller (BV) compensates
for the difference and ensures identical working
conditions for both control valves across the
total range. If you compare that with a situation
with traditional balancing valves you can see
that, because the balancing valve is static and
doesn’t react to the system conditions, the
pressure drop across the control valve increases
significantly which puts the control valve (CV)
to a challenge to provide comfort and stable
temperature control.

position 2

P P
CV CV
BV

BV
position 1 OT

OT
Q Q

P P P P
position 1 position 2 position 1 position 2
CV CV
CV CV
BV
BV

BV
BV
OT OT

OT OT
Q Q Q Q
20% of Design 20% of Design 20% of Design 20% of Design
design flow flow design flow flow design flow flow design flow flow
P P
pressure drop in a system with AB-QM pressure drop in a system with traditional valve set
CV CV
(manual balancing valve + control valve)
BV

BV
OT
6 VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 SIBC
OT
Q Q
Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Design

5 2
3

6 4

1. Stuffing box
2. Spindle
3. Plastic ring
4. Control valve’s cone
5. Membrane
6. Main spring
P2 P3
7. Hollow cone
(pressure controller)
P1
8. Vulcanized seat
(pressure controller)

P2-P3
P1-P3

Function: 1. Differential pressure controller BV 2. Control valve CV

The AB-QM valve consists of
two parts:
1. Differential pressure
controller
2. Control valve
The differential pressure controller maintains a
constant differential pressure across the
control valve.The pressure difference (p2-p3)
on the membrane is balanced with the force
of the spring. Whenever the differential pressure
across the control valve changes (due to a
change in available pressure, or movement of
the control valve) the hollow cone is displaced to
a new position which brings a new equilibrium
and therefore keeps the differential pressure at a
constant level.
The control valve has a linear characteristic. It
features a stroke limitation function that
allows adjustment of the Kv value. The
percentage marked on the scale equals the
percentage of 100% flow marked on the pointer.
Changing the stroke limitation is done by lifting
the blocking mechanism and turning the top of
the valve to the desired position, showed on the
scale as a percentage. A blocking mechanism
automatically prevents unwanted changing of
the setting.

SIBC VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 7

Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Sizing Example 1: Variable flow system Example 3: Sizing AB-QM according pipe
dimension
Given:
Cool requirement per unit : 1000 W Given:
Flow temperature in the system: 6 °C Flow in system 1, 4 m3/h (1400 l/h = 0,38l/s),
Return temperature in the system:12 °C pipe dimension DN 25 mm

Required - control and balancing valves: Required - automatic flow limiter:

AB-QM and actuators type for BMS system. AB-QM and presetting.

Solution: Solution:
Flow in the system: Q (l/h) In this case we can selected AB-QM DN 25 mm
Q = 0,86 x 1000 / ( 12-6 ) = 143 l/h with Qmax = 1700 l/h

Selected: In this case it will be recommended to check

AB-QM DN 10 mm with Qmax = 275 l/h
presetting on 143 / 275 = 0,52 = 52 % of
maximum opening.
Actuators: AMV 01 - 24 V
Remarks:
required minimum differential pressure across
the AB-QM DN 10 - 16 kPa.
the maximum velocity in the pipe. For this we
calculate velocity in the pipe for condition:
DN 25 mm – Di 27,2 mm
Dimension and condition acceptable, veloscity
below 1,0 m/s.
Preseting on the valve AB-QM DN 25 mm
1400 / 1700 = 0,82 = 82 % of maximum opening.

Example 2: Constant flow system Remarks:

required minimum differential pressure across
Given: the AB-QM DN 25 - 16 kPa.
Cool requirement per unit : 4000 W
Flow temperature in the system : 6 °C
Return temperature in the system : 12 °C
Q[l/h]
Required - automatic flow limiter: 3500
AB-QM and presetting.
3200
Solution:
Flow in the system : Q (l/h)
3000
Q = 0,86 x 4000 / ( 12-6 ) = 573 l/h

Selected:
AB-QM DN 20 mm with Qmax = 900 l/h
2500
presetting on 573 / 900 = 0,64 = 64 % of
maximum opening.

Remarks:
required minimum differential pressure across 2000
the AB-QM DN 20 - 16 kPa.
1700

1500

1000
900

640
500 450

275 340
150
180
55 90
0 30
DN10LF DN10 DN15 DN20 DN25 DN32
DN15LF

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Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Pump optimising / Trouble

shooting

Blue

Red

P2-P3

Pump optimization
Q Q=const. Q=const.

P2-P3

P2 P3
P1

P2-P3
P1-P3

P1-P3
16kPa 400kPa
(20kPa)

The AB-QM features measuring nipples
that allow measuring of the pressure difference
(p2-p3) across the control valve. If the pressure
difference exceeds certain value (7-14 kPa) it
means the differential pressure controller is
operational and the flow limitation is achieved.
The measuring function can be used to verify if
enough pressure difference is available and thus
verify the flow.
It can also be used to optimize the pump head.
The pump head can be decreased until no more
than the minimal required pressure (7-14 kPa)
is available on the most distant valve (in terms
of hydronic). This optimal point is to be found
when proportionality between pump head and
measured differential pressure cease to exist.
Verifying the pressure can be done by using a
Danfoss PFM 3000 for example (for more details
please refer to AB-QM Tech Notes VN.A3.N1.02).

Presetting The calculated flow can be adjusted easily

without using special tools. 100% 10%

To change the presetting: 50 60 50 60

70
70

40
40

- Remove the blue protective cap or the

80
80

30
30

mounted actuator. 90 90
)
)

(%
(%

0 0
100 2 100 2
- Raise the grey plastic ring and turn to the new Red
presetting.
- Release the white plastic ring and the
presetting is locked.

The presetting scale indicates a values from

100% flow to 0% closed.

Counter clock wise turning would increase the

flow value while clock wise would decrease it.

When valve is set to 80% or more the red ring

(below “DN max flow “ sign) becomes visible.

If the valve is a DN 15 then the max flow

= 450 l/h =100% presetting. To set a flow of 270
l/h you have to set: 270/450 = 60%.

Danfoss recomends a presetting/flow from 20%

to 100%. Factory presetting is 100%.

SIBC VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 9

Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Service The valve features a service function that allows Unwanted change of the setting is provided by
changing of the “stuffing box (code 065F0006)” locking ring (code 003Z0236) which is inserted
under water pressure. in the groove below the scale. The locking ring
Valves are equipped with plastic shut-off would not allow one to lift the grey plastic ring
mechanism that is to be used for isolating thus no change of the setting is possible.
function up to 1 bar differential pressure. When
closing against higher differential pressure
please use accessory - shut-off & protection
piece (003Z0230) or set the value to 0%.

Installing AB-QM valve is mono-directional meaning that

the valve operates when arrow on the valve body
is aligned with flow direction. When this rule is
disobeyed the valve acts like variable orifice that
cause water hammer at sudden closing when
available pressure has increased or valve have
been set to lower value.

In case when system condition allows backflows

it is strongly recommended to use backflow
preventer in order to avoid possible water
hammer that can damage the valve as well as
other elements in the system.

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Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Dimensions
TWA-Z AMV / AME

L1 L2 L3 H1 H2 H3 H4 b Weight
Type mm mm mm mm mm mm mm ISO 228/1 kg
AB-QM DN 10 53 36 79 20 73 105 140 G½A 0.38
AB-QM DN 15 65 45 79 25 75 110 145 G ¾A 0.48
AB-QM DN 20 82 56 79 33 77 115 150 G1A 0.65
AB-QM DN 25 104 71 79 42 88 130 165 G 1¼ A 1.45
AB-QM DN 32 130 90 79 50 102 145 180 G 1½ A 2.21

SIBC VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 11

Data sheet Automatically balanced combination valves AB

Danfoss A/S Danfoss Trata d.o.o.

Comfort Division Jožeta Jame 16, P.O.B. 4820
Hårupvænget 11 1210 Ljubljana - Šentvid
Hårup Slovenia
DK-8600 Silkeborg Tel.: +386 1/58 20 200
Denmark Fax: + 386 1/51 99 824
Tel.: +45 74 88 80 00
Fax: +45 74 88 81 00
http://www.hydronicbalancing.com http://www.danfoss-trata.si

12 VD.A2.W4.02 © Danfoss 10/2005 SIBC