John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design

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Air-to-water heat pumps, especially for larger systems, can be used in stages for efficient temperature control and flexibility, utilizing variable-speed compressors and specific piping setups to manage heating and cooling loads.

A review of a flawed hydronic heating system uncovers critical errors, such as improper circulator placement and restrictive mixing valves, leading to uneven warmth and corrosion issues. This underscores the need for proper design and installation in hydronic systems.

As government electrification target dates loom in the near future, and power transmission systems get pushed closer to their limits, utility companies continue implementing ways to manage peak demand.

Thermal storage enhances the efficiency of renewable energy heating systems, like pellet-fired boilers and solar collectors, by storing low-cost, off-peak electrical energy for future use. It's vital for reducing energy costs and ensuring consistent heating, with auxiliary boilers providing backup when needed.

Geothermal systems use HDPE tubing for closed-loop earth heat exchangers, buried several feet below the surface.

If your office routine is like mine, you probably type passwords into your devices all day to access essential websites and software. Sometimes you forget complex passwords and have to go through the hassle of resetting them. Financial websites may require monthly password updates.

Biomass boilers burn various fuels and come in different designs. Water vapor is produced when burning wood-based fuels, and the resulting condensate can be acidic and corrosive to metals like carbon steel and iron.

In last month’s column, we discussed the design and actuation of 3-way diverter valves. This month, we’ll look at several applications for these valves.

There are many scenarios in which flow at some location within a hydronic system has to be directed along one of two possible flow paths. When a single valve is used to create this routing, it’s called a diverter valve. In part 1, we're digging into motorized 3-way diverter valves and actuator options.

Last month, we discussed how solid thermal energy storage, combined with an air-to-water heat pump and an electric boiler, provides a platform to leverage time-of-use electrical rates in ways that can benefit customers as well as the utility providing the electricity.