Energy conservation potential of modular gas-fired boiler systems

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:7199993

Kelly, G E; Didion, D A

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. (auth)

• Research Organization: National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. (USA); U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Institute for Applied Technology, Center for Building Technology, Washington, DC 20234
• OSTI ID: 7199993
• Report Number(s): NBS-BSS-79
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
BOILERS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEATING LOAD
NATURAL GAS
SIZE