Energy-efficient and cost-effective use of district heating bypass for improving the thermal comfort in bathrooms in low-energy buildings
Abstract
The bypass is cause of energy inefficiency in District Heating (DH) systems, particularly in low heat density building areas. This paper deals with: a) the modelling of bypass strategies in service pipes supplying low-energy buildings; b) the description of the use of the bypass flow in bathroom floor heating to increase the users’ comfort; its techno-economic analysis, including the modelling of the in-house space heating system; the effect of the bypass to the DH network. Some conclusions were derived. First, the “continuous bypass” guarantees low heat losses in the service pipe, in the example considered 10-35% lower than in the traditional “intermittent bypass” case; secondly, it can be used to increase the thermal comfort outside the heating-season in bathrooms through floor heating, without causing overheating. It is important that the building design foresees the use of shading devices and the possibility of venting. Next, the “comfort bathroom” concept optimizes the operation of the whole network outside the heating season. In the case study the distribution heat losses are reduced by additional 13% during summer, in comparison to the “continuous bypass”. Consequently, the utilization of the bypass in bathroom floor heating is a cost-effective solution, both for the DH utilities (reduced heat loss from the DH network and higher revenues), the end-users (improved thermal comfort) and the society (reduction of greenhouse gas emissions).
Info
Conference Paper, 2012
UN SDG Classification
DK Main Research Area
Science/Technology
