dualpipe

Dualpipe is a term found in several engineering contexts, used to describe a piping configuration that employs two pipes to carry either different streams or to provide separate supply and return paths within a system. The exact meaning of dualpipe is not standardized and its interpretation can vary by industry and project.

In building services and hydronic systems, dual-pipe (often referred to as a two-pipe system) typically means that each zone or radiator connects to both a supply line and a return line. One pipe carries heated or cooled water to the devices, while the other returns water to the boiler, chiller, or heat exchanger. This arrangement allows straightforward zoning and independent temperature control but usually requires more piping, valves, and careful balancing than a single-pipe arrangement.

Beyond heating and cooling, the term may also appear in contexts where two parallel pipes provide redundancy or parallel feed paths to improve reliability, reduce pressure drop, or simplify maintenance in industrial or chemical applications. In such cases, dualpipe is less about temperature control and more about ensuring continuous operation or flow.

Advantages of dual-pipe configurations include greater flexibility for zoning, easier control of individual room conditions, and potential improvements in system stability. Limitations commonly cited are higher initial material costs, increased installation complexity, and greater space requirements for piping and valves.

See also: two-pipe system, hydronic heating, primary-secondary piping, district heating.