Recent developments in the development of efficient technologies for water heating have made it possible to present products with different operational advantages and easy installation.
by Alfredo Sotolongo*
The most economical energy to produce is the one that is saved!
For the past few years I have concentrated on suggesting the use of methods to make cooling systems as efficient as possible. Today I want to refer to heating systems, which although they are not directly related to air conditioning, they are directly related to water heating for use in bathrooms, kitchens, etc ... , mainly in hospitals, hotels, commercial buildings and industrial applications. I want to emphasize the importance of design engineers being at the forefront of new developments in water heating technology.
The first thing I want to refer to is instantaneous water heaters where condensation and heating technology is applied without hot water storage tanks. When selecting these systems, the most important details to consider are the following:
a) Low cost of installation, operation and maintenance.
b) When the checkpoint is 120F or less, the efficiency should be no less than 96% to 99%.
(c) The heat exchanger designed in such a way that it is thermal impact-proof and resistant to the formation of solid waste.
d) That the floor area occupied is as small as possible.
e) The most accurate temperature control, at least +/- 4⁰F
f) Low emission of NOx and CO.
g) When the system requires more than 1,000 MBTU, several units must be installed in chain type "Daisy" to meet the total load.
Especially for us, who have that great passion for energy conservation, among the main benefits of installing instant heaters without the need for storage tanks is the operation at efficiency levels of up to 99%. The control system must be able to modulate the capacity to adjust proportionally to the reduction in thermal load. In addition, since there is no need to store hot water in a tank, less fuel is required during its operation.
There are manufacturers like Aerco that have dedicated countless human and economic resources to research and develop control systems with which they anticipate how the thermal load will react in different situations. This equipment helps maintain the most accurate modulation possible when large reductions in hot water consumption occur, adapting air and fuel consumption.
Using state-of-the-art technology they modulate the air and fuel control valve and the frequency inverter that regulates the revolutions of the air supply fan. This control system guarantees stability, reliability and the highest possible efficiency in combustion with the lowest possible emission of NOx and CO. This is an ideal application especially for projects with green designs.
Among other benefits is the saving of floor space. In addition, access to the area where it is going to be installed is facilitated since, due to its small size, it can be introduced through normal width doors without the need to install special doors. In some cases, where existing units are replaced, to enter systems that use tanks it is necessary to break walls. By removing tanks, the leftover floor space is used to locate other equipment and/or to generate additional revenue input.
It is important to achieve the following goals:
a) Optimize operating efficiencies.
b) Reduce cycles, which makes the system more reliable.
c) Maintain the information of the daily behavior of the system.
By achieving the above goals, an optimal design of maximum efficiency and totally reliable is achieved.
If the total capacity requires multiple instantaneous heaters, only the heaters needed to maintain the load at any given time would operate. This results in the least possible wear of the heaters, extending their service life to the maximum.
We suggest to our colleagues who design and install water heaters, to consider applying instant heaters in their projects. Using this equipment, together with the controls that use state-of-the-art technology and minimal maintenance, they will offer their customers the most modern that exists at the moment with the fastest return on their investment.
If you need more information on any of the topics covered in this column, please contact me at the mail: [email protected]
* President of Protec, Inc., is certified as a professional engineer in Puerto Rico and the state of Florida; has more than 40 years of experience in the application and sale of systems and equipment for energy conservation. He is a member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), AEE (Association of Energy Engineers), ASHRAE and was president of the Miami chapter of that association.
