scholarly journals Development and Test of a Novel Electronic Radiator Thermostat with a Return Temperature Limiting Function

Energies ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 367
Author(s):  
Michele Tunzi ◽  
Dorte Skaarup Østergaard ◽  
Svend Svendsen

Automated hydronic balancing in space heating systems is crucial for the fourth-generation district heating transition. The current manual balancing requires labor- and time-consuming activities. This article presents the field results of an innovative electronic radiator thermostat tested on two Danish multi-family buildings. The prototypes had an additional return temperature sensor on each radiator and an algorithm was used to accurately control valve opening to ensure automated hydronic balancing. The results highlighted that the new thermostat performed as expected and helped secure the cooling of district heating temperatures —defined as the difference between supply and return temperature—4–12 °C higher during the test compared to results obtained in 2020, when the prototypes were replaced with state-of-the-art thermostats in the first building. The measurements from the other building illustrated how only two uncontrolled radiators out of 175 could contaminate the overall return temperature. The remote connection of the thermostats helped pinpoint the faults in the heating system, although the end-users were not experiencing any discomfort, and secure, after fixing the problems, a return temperature of 35 °C. Future designs may consider integrating a safety functionality to close the valve or limit the flow in case of damage or malfunction to avoid a few radiators compromising the low-temperature operation of an entire building before the cause of the problem has been identified.

Author(s):  
Lanbin Liu ◽  
Lin Fu ◽  
Yi Jiang

A large-scale survey and on-site measurements on space heating systems in Beijing has been carried out since 2005. Detailed analysis shows that the improvement of system regulation to adjust the heating demand and to avoid over-heating in building space is the key to reduce the heating energy consumption. It also indicates that combined heat and power (CHP) based district heating network is the most suitable solution for the space heating in Chinese northern cities. Thus, the priority should be in the research and development of new techniques to improve heating system regulation and control. In China, there are three reasons for poor heating system regulation: • the lack of control devices in space heating system, • the complex and inconvenient operation, and • the insufficient motivation because the charging policy is based on the heating areas. Field test results show that 20% to 30% of thermal energy is wasted because of the poor heating system regulation. In order to solve these problems, a novel “wireless on-off control” system for household heat adjusting and metering has been proposed. This technology works in the following way: 1) a calorimeter is installed at each building to measure the total heat consumption of the whole building; 2) an on-off valve is installed for each household and an indoor temperature controller is provided for the occupants. The operation procedure is as follows. First, the desired indoor temperature is set by the users through the indoor temperature controller and wireless signals are sent to the on-off valve. Then the on-off valve detects the real indoor temperature and determines the difference between the real temperature and the set value. After this, the valve calculates the proportion of on-time to off-time in the next step according to the thermal strategies programmed in the valve’ CPU. Then the valve is controlled according to the proportion to maintain the desired indoor temperature; and 3) the heating cost of each household can be allocated according to its heating area and the accumulative open time of the valve. The proposed technique has been applied in fifteen residential communities with the total areas of 1,200,000 m2. The testing results show that: 1) indoor temperatures were accurately controlled within +/− 0.5 °C around the set point, so that the problem of overheating can be avoided; 2) the difference of temperature in different room is less than 1 °C. Therefore, if radiators in each room are designed reasonably, to control the temperature of one room can meet the requirements of the entire user’s apartment; 3) energy consumption in the controlled household was approximately 30% lower than the uncontrolled household with the same building type.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3218
Author(s):  
Pedro Durán ◽  
Herena Torio ◽  
Patrik Schönfeldt ◽  
Peter Klement ◽  
Benedikt Hanke ◽  
...  

There are 1454 district heating systems in Germany. Most of them are fossil based and with high temperature levels, which is neither efficient nor sustainable and needs to be changed for reaching the 2050 climate goals. In this paper, we present a case study for transforming a high to low temperature district heating system which is more suitable for renewable energy supply. With the Carnot Toolbox, a dynamic model of a potential district heating system is simulated and then transformed to a low temperature supply. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to see the system performance in case space constrains restrict the transformation. Finally, an economic comparison is performed. Results show that it is technically possible to perform the transformation until a very low temperature system. The use of decentralized renewable sources, decentralized heat storage tanks and the placement of a heat pump on each building are the key points to achieve the transformation. Regarding the sensitivity analysis, the transformation is worth doing until the seasonal storage and solar collector field sizes are reduced to 60% and 80% of their values in the reference case, respectively. The economic analysis shows, however, that it is hard for highly efficient low temperature renewable based heat networks to compete with district heating systems based on a centralized fossile CHP solution. Thus, though the presented transformation is technically possible, there is a strong need to change existing economic schemes and policies for fostering a stronger promotion of renewable energy policies in the heat sector.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3350
Author(s):  
Theofanis Benakopoulos ◽  
William Vergo ◽  
Michele Tunzi ◽  
Robbe Salenbien ◽  
Svend Svendsen

The operation of typical domestic hot water (DHW) systems with a storage tank and circulation loop, according to the regulations for hygiene and comfort, results in a significant heat demand at high operating temperatures that leads to high return temperatures to the district heating system. This article presents the potential for the low-temperature operation of new DHW solutions based on energy balance calculations and some tests in real buildings. The main results are three recommended solutions depending on combinations of the following three criteria: district heating supply temperature, relative circulation heat loss due to the use of hot water, and the existence of a low-temperature space heating system. The first solution, based on a heating power limitation in DHW tanks, with a safety functionality, may secure the required DHW temperature at all times, resulting in the limited heating power of the tank, extended reheating periods, and a DH return temperature of below 30 °C. The second solution, based on the redirection of the return flow from the DHW system to the low-temperature space heating system, can cool the return temperature to the level of the space heating system return temperature below 35 °C. The third solution, based on the use of a micro-booster heat pump system, can deliver circulation heat loss and result in a low return temperature below 35 °C. These solutions can help in the transition to low-temperature district heating.


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 318-322
Author(s):  
Edvardas Tuomas ◽  
Saulius Neverbickas

The majority of dwellings in Lithuania are situated in blocks of flats. The dwellings were built after World War II and they are heated by single pipe central heating systems, connected to district heating. The dwellers are not quite satisfied with such a heating system and try to improve it, but do that in a wrong way, by increasing the surface of radiators. Such means lead to violation of thermal regime and comfort conditions for other dwellers. There exists sometimes the necessity of reconstructing premises and together—the heating system. During the reconstruction the primary heat fluxes from radiators should be known, but very often such data are lost and only the size of radiators (number of sections) are known. To reconstruct the required primary data for single pipe systems is complicated because the temperatures of inlet and outlet water for radiators are unknown. In this article the methodology is proposed how to perform the calculations leading to the required data. The aim of calculations is the establishment of heat fluxes from each radiator connected to the riser. Heat flux from radiator can be calculated according the formula (1) but the complex coefficient is unknown. It could be found from formulae (2) but some magnitudes are unknown. According to the proposed methodology the values of unknown magnitudes are taken approximately and calculations are performed with iterations. In such a way the flow rate of water in riser is established from formula (3), which is the same for each radiator (the property of single pipe system). From formulas (3) and (4) an equation is produced (5), and is used for calculations of unknown temperatures. The equation (6) is used for calculation of heat fluxes from radiators. To carry out the above-mentioned calculations without computer practically is impossible due to many cycles of iteration. The programme was prepared to make easy all these calculations. The scheme of algorithm of programme is given in Fig 1. An example of calculation is given in this article. Calculations were fulfilled by newly created programme. The riser chosen for calculation is shown in Fig 2. The results of calculation are given in Table 1. The table shows that according to the proposed methodology the programme based on it can be used for reconstruction of primary data of single pipe heating systems successfully.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bożena Babiarz ◽  
Paweł Kut

District heating systems as strategic objects from the point of view of state security must ensure reliability and security in supply of heat to their customers [1, 2]. Thanks to computer simulation methods, district heating companies can analyse the operation of the heating networks at the design and operation stage. Computer simulations also offer a wide range of possibilities in the aspect of optimization of the district heating operation as well as prediction and analysis of network failure effects [3-6]. The paper concerns the simulation of a district heating network. The methods for the simulation of heating networks were characterized and simulations of district heating system were carried out. The effects of the failure were analysed at different values of outside temperatures and for different durations of failure. The value of compensation for undelivered heat was also determined. Simulations were carried out for an actual district heating system located in Rzeszow.


Electronics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Soo Jeon ◽  
Young Jae Lee ◽  
Yeongsu Bak ◽  
Kyo-Beum Lee

This paper presents not only a hardware-simulator development for hydraulic turbine generation systems (HTGS) in a district heating system (DHS) but also its control strategies and sequence. Generally, a DHS uses a differential pressure control valve (DPCV) to supply high-pressure–high-temperature fluids for customers depending on distance. However, long-term exposure of the DPCV to fluids increases the probability of cavitation and leads to heat loss in an event of cavitation. Therefore, a HTGS was introduced to solve this problem. It performs differential pressure control of the fluids, replaces the DPCV, and converts excess energy wasted by the DPCV to electrical energy. In this paper, the development of a hardware-simulator for HTGSs with a back-to-back converter, which uses two-level topologies, is proposed; moreover, control strategies and sequence used in this design are presented. The performance and validity of the proposed hardware-simulator and its control strategies are demonstrated by experimental results.


Author(s):  
Krzysztof Badyda ◽  
Wojciech Bujalski ◽  
Jarosław Milewski ◽  
Michał Warchoł

Heat accumulators in large district heating systems are used to buffer heat production. Their main purpose is to make heat production as independent as possible from district heating system demand. To do this effectively a heat accumulator of appropriate capacity must be selected. In large district heating systems, heat accumulators can be used for equalising production over periods lasting a few hours. Accumulators can be used for optimising electricity and heat production to achieve possible highest income. It may be important in situations where on-line prices change. An optimising algorithm for heat accumulator use is shown and commented. Typical working situations are simulated and results presented.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.J. Chmielnicki

Abstract The annual usage of heat for the demand of heating systems in municipal sector has been estimated as about 650PJ. It is mostly addressed for the demand of central heating systems and hot water consumption. The mode of adopted solutions concerning regulation and control, as well as energy management system, essentially influence its consumption. In the case of residential buildings, the costs of energy constitute the greatest share related to the total cost of building maintenance. Providing buildings with modern digital systems for control and regulation of heating installations is a basic condition enabling their rational usage. In currently employed solutions, algorithms PI or PID are usually applied. However, due to the non-linear properties of heating control systems, they do not secure proper quality. The sequences are often unstable and major control deviations occur. The application of neural networks is an alternative solution to those presently employed. They are especially recommended for adaptive control of non-stationary systems. Such cases occur in heating objects since they demonstrate non-linear properties with a great range of variability of parameters; this especially refers to district heating equipped with flux-through heat exchangers. In this paper, a compile model of heating system control aided by neural networks is presented. The results of the investigation clearly prove the usefulness of such solutions, cause the quality of control is much better than that one applied in traditional systems. Presently, works on the implementation of the proposed solutions are under way.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (6 Part A) ◽  
pp. 3673-3684
Author(s):  
Borna Doracic ◽  
Marino Grozdek ◽  
Tomislav Puksec ◽  
Neven Duic

District heating systems already play an important role in increasing the sustainability of the heating sector and decreasing its environmental impact. However, a high share of these systems is old and inefficient and therefore needs to change towards the 4th generation district heating, which will incorporate various energy sources, including renewables and excess heat of different origins. Especially excess heat from industrial and service sector facilities is an interesting source since its potential has already been proven to be highly significant, with some researches showing that it could cover the heat demand of the entire residential and service sector in Europe. However, most analyses of its utilisation in district heating are not done on the hourly level, therefore not taking into account the variability of its availability. For that reason, the main goal of this work was to analyse the integration of industrial excess heat into the district heating system consisting of different configurations, including the zero fuel cost technologies like solar thermal. Furthermore, cogeneration units were a part of every simulated configuration, providing the link to the power sector. Excess heat was shown to decrease the operation of peak load boiler and cogeneration, that way decreasing the costs and environmental effect of the system. However, since its hourly availability differs from the heat demand, thermal storage needs to be implemented in order to increase the utilisation of this source. The analysis was performed on the hourly level in the energyPRO software


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