Towards Development of an Algorithm for Mains Water Temperature

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2007

OSTI ID:981988

Burch, J; Christensen, C

Mains water temperature (T{sub mains}) has significant influence on the energy consumption of water heating equipment. It is dominantly influenced by ambient temperature (T{sub amb}). Since T{sub amb} is roughly an annual sinusoid, T{sub mains} is assumed to be a sinusoid whose mean value varies directly with annual average temperature T{sub amb},{sub ann}. Model parameters are based on water system physics and include: (i) a constant offset from T{sub amb},{sub ann}; and (ii) amplitude and phase which vary linearly with T{sub amb},{sub ann}. Available T{sub mains} data indicate that the offset is {approx}6 oF, and that the amplitude is {approx}0.4{delta}T{sub amb} Uncertainties include: (i) data quality issues, including bias of T{sub mains} data from heat exchange with house air; (ii) inherent spatial variations in mains networks, and (iii) limited data sets. Future work includes acquiring quality data sets, testing the model in northern climates, and refining parameter estimates.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 981988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
AIR
ALGORITHMS
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
AMPLITUDES
CLIMATES
DATA
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY POLICY
EQUIPMENT
HEAT
HOUSES
MARKETING
PHYSICS
REFINING
Solar Energy - Thermal
TESTING
VARIATIONS
WATER
WATER HEATING
WORK