- Author
-
Kelly, G. E.
|
Didion, D. A.
- Title
- Energy Conservation Potential of Modular Gas-Fired Boiler Systems. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBS BSS 079,
December 1975,
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
energy conservation; boilers; modular structures; hot water heating; fuels; natural gas; thermal efficiency; heating load; buildings
- Abstract
- The modular concept of boiler operation was examined in a laboratory test of five gas-fired, cast iron, hydronic boilers. Four of the boilers, each having an input rating of 85,000 Btu per hour, were arranged so that they could either be operated like a single boiler (i.e., all of the boilers either on or off) or as a modular installation in which the boilers are sequentially fired to match the number in operation with the heating load. The fifth boiler had an input rating of 300,000 Btu per hour and was operated as a single boiler installation. Efficiency vs. heating load curves were obtained for the single boiler installation, the four small boilers run like a single boiler and the modular installation operated with and without water flowing through the idle modules. These efficiency curves were then used to theoretically predict the effect of the modular concept and boiler oversizing on the seasonal efficiency of gas-fired heating plants. It was found that under certain conditions the use of a gas-fired modular boiler installation instead of a single large boiler could result in considerable energy savings.