boiler

The joint IEA research project of ECBCS Annex 43 / SHC Task 34 “Testing and Validation of Building Energy Simulation Tools” contributes to evaluation, diagnosis and improvement of building energy simulation tools. So it carries forward a process that has

Although the great majority of British dwellings are heated by individual gas systems, there are some instances, particularly in blocks of flats and retirement homes, where individual gas appliances cannot be specified. In these buildings the alternative to individual systems is a group heating scheme whereby a central boiler plant supplies hot water to each flat for heating and domestic hot water. In the past, group heating systems have not always been successful. Comparative results show that energy use of group heating systems is, on average, 50% higher than that of individual systems.

Describes work carried out by British Gas to establish the magnitude of heat losses from gas-fired boilers arising from natural ventilation through the boiler during its shutdown period. Discusses the general principles of ventilation heat losses to the flue and via the draught diverter and presents data for heat loss decay rates for a range of boilers. Calculates ventilation heat losses for typical boilers. Concludes that for a typical open-flued domestic heating boiler, ventilation heat losses are approx 6% or less of total heat input.