Analysis on Flat Station Concept

(Preparing dhw decentralised in flats)

Jan Eric Thorsen

M.Sc., Senior Project Manager

District Energy Application Centre,
Danfoss A/S, DK-Nordborg

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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
 The Flat Station Concept:

Apartment 4th floor

Staircase or
pipe tunnel
Flat station
Incl. metering Hot
Tap
Water

District Room
Heating Cold Water Heat
Apartment 3rd floor
or
secondary Apartment 2nd floor
heating

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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
The parameters addressed:
Investments:
- Distribution system
- Basement sub station (dhw) versus flat stations (dhw)
- Energy meters

Energy savings:
- Heat loss in primary distribution system
- dhw circulation pump consumption

Comfort:
- dhw temperature stability and variation
- dhw recovery time after idle period

Hygienic issues
- Considerations on Legionella related to the system’s physical layout

Future energy supply/demand perspective

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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
 Investments, the Århus case -
Denmark
Project facts:
- Renovation project, buildings from 1930
- ”Protected” building, original appearance to be maintained
- Energy renovation to EL-1 or EL-2, renewable energy
- Block with 24 flats
- 4 flour levels + basement
- Flat areas 90 to 120 m2
- Supplied by DH

Two options investigated:

- Connection C or Connection F (Horizontally pipe lay out)

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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
The connection schemes:
Distribution Riser Pipe System C Distribution Flat Station System F

(-) meter pipe (+/-) net heat loss (+/-) meter pipe (+) net heat loss

(If required)

Station, unit, Hot all day and all year

normally with HEX District Heating, Room Heating Pipe
Hot all day only during the winter
Heat meter Hot Tap Water, Circulation Pipe Hot few hours/day all year
Heat meter optional Cold Water Pipe 5
12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
Radiator Sink, shower, etc
Investments, the Århus case

24 pcs. -1.6 t.Euro

6 pcs. -1.3 t.Euro

6 pcs. -2.8 t.Euro

120m -6.0 t.Euro

1 pcs. -4.0 t.Euro

24 pcs. 15.8 t.Euro

Summa = 0.1 t.Euro

In this case break even !
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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
Energy Savings, Århus case, sc.1.

Assumptions:
- Summer/Winter split 6/6 month
- Floor heating active all year around, anyhow reduced temperatures f. traditional concept
- Distribution loss during winter is assumed to be utilised in building !
- Difference ex. pump. electrical costs

Rule of thumb: Energy saving approx. 2kWh/m2/year (2% of heat demand f. 1970 building)
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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
Energy Savings, Århus case, sc.2.

Assumptions:
- Summer/Winter split 6/6 month
- Floor heating not active during summer
- Distribution loss during winter is assumed not to be utilised in building
- Heat loss from unit is assumed to be utilised during winter
- Difference ex. pump. electrical costs

Rule of thumb: Energy saving approx. 4kWh/m2/year (4% of heat demand f. 1970 building)
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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
Comfort – Simulations
the dynamic system

T1 T2 T3 T4
dhw pipe
length L2, 5 or 10m
Ødi = 10mm
T T initial = 20°C
Branch pipe flow Q2=400 l/h T4 = f(t)
length L1 T2 = f(t)
Ødi = 20mm T2 = 40°C T3 = f(t)
T1=60°C ”Q1=800 l/h” at idle Secondary Volume

Heat Exchanger
hot or cold during idle
Branch pipe return
Primary Volume Steel Mass

Qs

Pipes: Simple delay model, no capacities

Heat Exch.: Lumped capacity model
Controller: Thermostatic + Proportional controller
Modes: Hot or Cold Heat Exchanger
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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
 Comfort – Simulations
the dynamic system, to reach 45°C Q1=800l/h
Q2=400l/h
Bypass temp. = 40°C
T2 is before HEX
T3 is dhw at HEX
! T4 is dhw at tap

delay (dt) is approx 2 sec.

T4 cold hex – L2 = 10m different for cold or hot
T4 hot hex– L2 = 10m heat exchanger
T4 cold hex – L2 = 5m strong dependent on dhw
pipe length (L2) and diam.
T4 hot hex – L2 = 5m

T3 cold hex weak dependent on branch

T3 hot hex
pipe length (L1) and diam.
due to idle temperature in pipe
T2
strong dependent on controller
type (e.g. prop. controller)
typically add 3-6 sec. due to
thermal capacities
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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
Comfort, control of dhw temperature
dP = 1 bar
Q2 T supply = 60°C
100 1000 Ts
90 35 kW T1 T2 (supply at HEX) 900
1 - T11
80 800
Q1 T3 (dhw at HEX)
70 700 2 - T12
60 600
Temp C

Q l/h
50 500 3 - T21

40 20 kW 400
4 - T22
30 10 kW 300
20 200 Qdhw
4 kW
10 100
Qprim
0 0
0 60 120 180 240
time sec
Temp. + dhw flow Proportional controlled
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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
Hygienic issues
Main focus is on Legionella

contributing factors

- dhw flow or “exchange” rate of water in pipes, it's about concentration

- dhw temperature 60, 50 or 45°C,
- in DK regulations for circ. systems + ST
- dhw volume, 3 litre rule DVGW AB-W551,
dhw pipe flow
T22 tap length=10-15m
T22 tap Ødi=10mm
vol=0.08 l/m
T22 tap
vol=0.8-1.2 l

T
T22
Secondary Volume
vol=0.25-1.0 l The shower distributor
T4 = 37°C !

T21, Qs 12
12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
Future Energy Supply / Demand
Perspective for DH

Heat demands will decrease in the building masses, a challenge for DH

DH dist. losses must decrease > Net temperature lower

Insulation class of DH pipes

Use of renewable energy, availability > DH + Net temperature lower

Use of waste energy, availability > DH + Net temperature lower

dhw temperature limiting factor > Flat Stations for blocks of flats
dhw by inst. Heat Exchanger !
(Tdhw = 45°C)
(Tprim = 50-55°C)

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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
 CONCLUSION
Investments:
- In the Århus case on break even level

Energy savings:
- Heat loss in distribution, 2-4 kWh/m^2/year based on cases
- Corresponds to 2-4% energy saving for typical Danish 1970 Building

Comfort:
- high level of dhw temperature control,
however waiting time for dhw is dep. on pipe length, diameter, temp. level in pipes.
- Trade off between comfort and energy saving

Hygienic issues
- Reduced risk of Legionella due to dhw volumes and “exchange” rate of water in pipes

Future energy supply/demand perspective

- Flat stations opens possibility to reduced primary temperature in DH net,
supports competiveness of DH. Energy source flexible concept

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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S
 Thank You for the Attention

Contact information:
Jan Eric Thorsen
M.Sc., Senior Project Manager
District Energy Application Centre,
Danfoss A/S, DK-Nordborg
jet@danfoss.com

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12th Int. Symposium on District Heating and Cooling, Tallinn, 5-7 Sept. 2010, J.E THORSEN, DANFOSS A/S