COMMERCIAL HEATING
MODULAR BOILERS
< Hamworthy modular condensing boilers installed alongside a CHP engine and biomass boiler at The Movement project in Greenwich. Installed by Vital Energi.
“System dynamics dictate how often boilers actually condense based on return water temperature which will reduce as system loads increase with more energy consumed from the circuit.” temperatures will allow high part load condensing performance from the boiler plant. As system demands increase, boiler load will increase towards full load capacity. At this point system return temperatures should be low and the boilers will continue to operate in condensing condition delivering an efficient energy supply. Boilers capable of operating with large differential temperatures can closely match system dynamics throughout the year. CIBSE Guidance AM12 – Combined Heat and Power for Buildings, makes specific reference to designing district heating schemes or heat networks with a minimum of 30°C differential temperature. This is to keep flow rates and pipe sizes small, and to maintain a low return temperature, even at low load conditions, for more efficient plant operation. The CIBSE/ADE CP1 Heat Networks: Code of Practice for the UK also refers to the use of lower return temperatures for best practice heat network design. These larger differential temperatures were originally only possible from large water content boilers but without the benefits of condensing capability, higher turndown ratios and accurate load matching that you get with a modular condensing boiler. But now some modular condensing boilers with low water content are able to operate up to 40 degrees delta T. This means you can maximise condensing operation and get energy and cost savings.
The supporting water pipes and pumps can all be smaller with modular boilers and systems with wider temperature differentials, helping to reduce installation costs and gain further energy savings.
Phased Something we see a lot on projects is the phased approach to purchase and installation – particularly when constructing a new residential building or mixed use development supplied by a heat network/energy centre. Often only parts of the building will be used when the complex is first opened until they sell or lease the dwellings, offices or commercial units. With a modular boiler system you do not need to purchase and install all equipment straight away, you can add and expand the system as the building fills up. Or you can fit everything at the start but only use the boilers that are needed, switching them on incrementally when more people occupy the building. This helps control costs and energy use. Our compact modular boilers fit through standard doorways, whereas large output boilers take up more room and must be installed before the building is built around it. To help meet the government’s energy efficiency targets it’s all about providing the right amount of heat at the right time, with little or no wastage. This means products working together to offer the best solution for each application. Modular boilers tick all the boxes for heat networks, energy centres as well as basement plant rooms, rooftop plant rooms and city centre developments.
< Stanmore Place in London is a mixed use development of houses, apartments and offices that in the first phase installed 34 Hamworthy condensing boiler modules across 5 plantrooms providing a total output of 7,900kW for the different building’s heating and hot water needs. The boiler modules have a 5:1 turndown ratio and are controlled by a boiler sequence controller to ensure efficient load matching.
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