Investigation of hydraulic imbalance for converting existing boiler based buildings to low temperature district heating

Ashfaq, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5152-5550 and Ianakiev, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1413-8110, 2018. Investigation of hydraulic imbalance for converting existing boiler based buildings to low temperature district heating. Energy, 160, pp. 200-212. ISSN 0360-5442

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Abstract

The hydraulic balance of heating network is considered as a pre-condition for the implementation of low temperature district heating (LTDH). Its imbalance result into high energy consumption and heat-losses in the network. In this study, a novel hydraulic model is presented which investigates hydraulic imbalance in the LTDH network, using real weather and hourly monitored operational heating data from an existing boiler based building. Analysis of delta t in space-heating system shows that the delta t is maximum when the outside air temperature is lowest and it decreases with increase in outside air temperature. Furthermore, the hydraulic imbalance is analysed for four different control scenarios with the aim to find an optimum scenario with minimum pumping power, energy consumption and heat-losses in the LTDH network. Results show that the hydraulic imbalance is due to the absence of flow-limiters and balancing valves on the return pipe and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) alone are unable to maintain hydraulic balance in the space-heating system of buildings. Moreover, the control scenario with variable flow-rate and fixed supply water temperature from the sub-station is found to be optimum. Compared to the constant flow-rate scenario, the pumping power, energy consumption and heat-losses in the LTDH network are reduced by approximately 2%, 63% and 14%, respectively.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Energy
Creators:	Ashfaq, A. and Ianakiev, A.
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date:	1 October 2018
Volume:	160
ISSN:	0360-5442
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.energy.2018.07.001 DOI S0360544218312891 Publisher Item Identifier
Divisions:	Schools > School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	17 Jul 2018 13:18
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2020 14:11
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/34093

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