Abstract
In the UK, approximately 16% of the energy use can be attributed to domestic wet central heating systems. Government financial support and advances in technology have led to boilers becoming more efficient and a range of technologies are now available that claim to be able to improve the efficiency of domestic wet central heating systems. One such low cost technology is a passive deaerator. This article presents the results obtained from installing a passive deaerator on the closed loop of a gas-fired wet central heating system, under controlled conditions in the Salford Energy House. The results indicate that although marginally less heat output was required from the boiler when the passive deaerator was operating, these savings are more or less out weighted by the boiler short cycling more frequently. Consequently, the overall reduction is gas consumption achieved by utilising the passive deaerator device is only of the order of 0.5%; this scale of savings may just be a consequence of measurement noise. The implications are that although a marginal benefit may be attributed to these products, if short cycling takes place, then these savings may become insignificant. Practical application: This article describes a test method that has been used to quantify the energy savings that could be achieved by installing a passive deaerator on the closed loop of a wet central heating system. Although the results indicate that the energy savings associated with using such a device are likely to be marginal, the test method described could be used to test a range of other devices that claim to improve the performance of domestic wet central heating systems, to directly compare before and after performance.
Highlights
There is widespread agreement within the scientific community that changes to the global climate are taking place, primarily due to an increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gases, and governments are prioritising attempts to limit these[1]
This report has outlined the results of a series of directly comparable in situ tests undertaken on the space heating system installed within the Salford Energy House under controlled conditions
The aim of these tests was to quantify the energy savings that are likely to be achieved by installing a passive deaerator on the closed loop of a wet central heating system
Summary
There is widespread agreement within the scientific community that changes to the global climate are taking place, primarily due to an increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gases, and governments are prioritising attempts to limit these[1]. By the year 2020, the EU is committed to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 20% reduction in the energy derived from renewables and a 20% increase in energy efficiency[4]. In order to meet these targets, the EU has introduced legislation that is designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Other lower cost technological solutions are available that are capable of improving the energy efficiency of the central heating system. These include: thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s), intelligent controllers, high efficiency circulation pumps, and passive deaerators
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Building Services Engineering Research and Technology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
