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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Upgrading seasonal efficiency of gas heating systems. Final report, January 1977-December 1980

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5754643
A test room is described which can accurately estimate the heating season efficiency of gas-fired appliances. Ten furnaces and 5 boilers were studied in this room. Potential energy savings and the effect on performance were determined for the following efficiency improvement retrofit action: (1) derate, (2) derate and flue restriction, (3) vent connector restriction, (4) electric and thermal vent dampers, (5) IID's and (6) combinations. Some of the appliances studies employed designs which reportedly resulted in high operating efficiency, e.g. pulse combustion systems, power burner systems and forced draft systems. Finally, two heat recovery devices were studied. The studies showed that significant energy could be saved with some of the retrofit action, that installation site of the furnace has an important effect on these savings and that derate with vent restriction may be the most cost effective retrofit. The replacement of the existing system with one of the new high efficiency systems is also a good energy saving option.
Research Organization:
American Gas Association Labs., Cleveland, OH
OSTI ID:
5754643
Report Number(s):
PB-83-195115
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English