- Author
-
Sushinsky, G. F.
- Title
- Degradation of Gas-Fired Water Heaters. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBSIR 78-1460
June 1978
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. Telephone: 1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000; Fax: 703-605-6900; Rush Service (Telephone Orders Only) 800-553-6847; Website: http://www.ntis.gov
- Keywords
-
water heaters; gas heaters; degradation; efficiency; gas burners; thermal efficiency; deposits; failure; performance evaluation
- Abstract
- The energy efficiency degradation of gas-fired water heaters was measured in laboratory tests of old water heaters collected from different sections of the country. Three other forms of degradation (lifetime, safety, and performance degradation) were also identified. The causes and potential effects of each degraded condition were assessed through literature surveys. Supplementary laboratory evaluations were conducted in the areas of energy efficiency and performance degradation. Reductions in the recovery efficiency of water heaters of 5 percentage points were measured, while simulated performance declines in excess of 20 percent were noted. Larger decreases in recovery efficiency are expected for water heaters containing significant deposits of scale or sediment. (Portions of this document are not fully legible)