Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting Function
Low-temperature district heating will play an important role in a future free of fossil fuels. This will only be able to be realized through the low-temperature operation of heating systems in existing buildings. Existing radiator systems can operate with low temperatures for most of the year becaus...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/17/3215 |
| _version_ | 1798005871445278720 |
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| author | Theofanis Benakopoulos Robbe Salenbien Dirk Vanhoudt Svend Svendsen |
| author_facet | Theofanis Benakopoulos Robbe Salenbien Dirk Vanhoudt Svend Svendsen |
| author_sort | Theofanis Benakopoulos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low-temperature district heating will play an important role in a future free of fossil fuels. This will only be able to be realized through the low-temperature operation of heating systems in existing buildings. Existing radiator systems can operate with low temperatures for most of the year because they are designed for extremely cold days, but errors have to be corrected and the control of the radiator systems needs to be improved. In this paper, we present a strategy to achieve low-temperature operation from the radiator system of a multi-family building in Denmark without a pre-setting function in the thermostatic radiator valves. The strategy is based on operating the system with a combination of a minimum supply temperature and small temperature differences over the radiators. The operation of the system is analyzed through a thermal-hydraulic model. A minimum supply temperature weather compensation curve was calculated and implemented in the central supply temperature control. Return temperature measurements in the substation, the risers, and several critical radiators were performed before and after the implementation of the strategy. The measurements confirm that a lower supply temperature results in a reduction of the return temperature. However, the system operator needs to be supported by a tool package to correctly maintain the system’s operation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:45:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0bc9d595687c469c98548be8f200d225 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:45:59Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-0bc9d595687c469c98548be8f200d2252022-12-22T04:23:21ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-08-011217321510.3390/en12173215en12173215Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting FunctionTheofanis Benakopoulos0Robbe Salenbien1Dirk Vanhoudt2Svend Svendsen3Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek VITO NV, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek VITO NV, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek VITO NV, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumDepartment of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Brovej, Building 118, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, DenmarkLow-temperature district heating will play an important role in a future free of fossil fuels. This will only be able to be realized through the low-temperature operation of heating systems in existing buildings. Existing radiator systems can operate with low temperatures for most of the year because they are designed for extremely cold days, but errors have to be corrected and the control of the radiator systems needs to be improved. In this paper, we present a strategy to achieve low-temperature operation from the radiator system of a multi-family building in Denmark without a pre-setting function in the thermostatic radiator valves. The strategy is based on operating the system with a combination of a minimum supply temperature and small temperature differences over the radiators. The operation of the system is analyzed through a thermal-hydraulic model. A minimum supply temperature weather compensation curve was calculated and implemented in the central supply temperature control. Return temperature measurements in the substation, the risers, and several critical radiators were performed before and after the implementation of the strategy. The measurements confirm that a lower supply temperature results in a reduction of the return temperature. However, the system operator needs to be supported by a tool package to correctly maintain the system’s operation.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/17/3215low-temperature district heatingradiator heating systemthermostatic radiator valveslow-temperature operationlow supply temperaturemulti-family buildingthermal-hydraulic modelreturn temperature measurements |
| spellingShingle | Theofanis Benakopoulos Robbe Salenbien Dirk Vanhoudt Svend Svendsen Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting Function Energies low-temperature district heating radiator heating system thermostatic radiator valves low-temperature operation low supply temperature multi-family building thermal-hydraulic model return temperature measurements |
| title | Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting Function |
| title_full | Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting Function |
| title_fullStr | Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting Function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting Function |
| title_short | Improved Control of Radiator Heating Systems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves without Pre-Setting Function |
| title_sort | improved control of radiator heating systems with thermostatic radiator valves without pre setting function |
| topic | low-temperature district heating radiator heating system thermostatic radiator valves low-temperature operation low supply temperature multi-family building thermal-hydraulic model return temperature measurements |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/17/3215 |
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