Effect of retrofits on combustion characteristics and seasonal efficiency of gas-fired furnaces and boilers

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6803256

Zawacki, T S; Macriss, R A

Results are presented from a recently completed 3-yr field study designed to assess the energy conservation effectiveness of retrofitting central gas-fired space heating furnaces and boilers. This study, known by the acronym SHEIP (for Space Heating Efficiency Improvement Program) dealt with the development of appropriate procedures for the retrofitting, the acquisition, and analysis of field-test data from over 2650 test sites monitored by 67 participating gas companies from the 48 contiguous states and a province in Canada. Results for several groups of sites (similiarly retrofit-modified by a single, double or quadruple retrofit) are presented and show that the range of statistically significant gas savings, obtained varied between 0.5 and 13.2% for warm-air installations, and between 2.8 and 9.9% for hot-water boiler installations. For retrofit modifications that included gas input derating (with or without secondary air adjustment and with or without vent restrictor present in the vent system of the furnace), the gas savings obtained could simply but accurately be correlated with the change in steady-state efficiency, level of gas input derating, and vent-pipe area reduction. Also presented is an account of the test design, procedures for site selection, inspection, data acquisition and analysis, comparisons of quality of combustion, efficiency, and energy consumption characteristics of these installations between pre- and post-retrofit conditions.

• OSTI ID: 6803256
• Report Number(s): CONF-810101-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
BOILERS
CANADA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA ANALYSIS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FIELD TESTS
FURNACES
GAS FURNACES
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
INSPECTION
MODIFICATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
RETROFITTING
SPACE HEATING
SURVEYS
TESTING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA