FACT SHEET: HEAT SOURCES FOR RADIANT CENTRAL HEATING

This fact sheet examines boilers and heat pumps that are designed to heat water for use in radiant heating systems such as underfloor heating or radiators.

Ground Source Heat Pump

Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) operate by collecting energy from the ground. Stable ground temperatures provide an effective source of heat in the cold winter months. Energy is transferred from the earth to the fluid that is circulated through pipes buried in the ground. The pre-heated fluid is then passed through the heat pump unit which exchanges the heat to the hydronic system for distribution throughout the home for space heating and/or domestic hot water supply. The system may be used to supply low temperature hydronic underfloor and/or radiator central heating systems. It may be considered that a GSHP system may also be used for summer cooling by using the ground as a heat sink. More stable earth and water temperatures over the duration of the year mean that a GSHP will operate at a higher efficiency than conventional air-source heat pumps and fossil fuelled equipment. A water source heat pump (WSHP) can be an effective alternative to a GSHP. The two systems operate similarly to one another, however, a WSHP alternatively collects energy from a bore, river or lake/pond. The most suitable system for a particular site will depend on a number of conditions such as local; climate, soil type, water table depth, pond dimensions and water stratification. It should be considered that there is unlikely to be a significant difference between the operational efficiency of a GSHP and a WSHP. This is because both ground and water sources are thought to have very similar stable temperature conditions. One benefit of a WSHP system is that water can be pumped directly from the water source to the heat pump unit without the need for the installation of large pipe loops. With a GSHP the trenches for the water pipes must be at least 1m deep and may need to extend over a large area for efficient operation. There are a number of different methods for installing the ground pipe loops, which may be used.

The various ground source heat pump systems that may be used to collect heat from the stable ground/water sources to provide a highly efficient water heating solution.

Features ! ! Can be very efficient even in cold weather Can also heat Domestic hot water

Considerations ! ! If used with radiator they will need to be oversized Higher capital cost than most heating systems

Hot Water Heat Pumps

Hot water heat pumps draw heat from the outside air and transfer it to water for domestic hot water and space heating using a refrigerant cycle. Heat pump water heaters use electricity to compress refrigerant creating heat as the refrigerant is compressed. This heat is transferred to water through a heat exchanger. The water becomes the medium to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. The efficiency of a heat pump is dependent on the outside temperature therefore they are well suited to most locations with in New Zealand given its temperate climate. Current hot water heat pump technology is limited to heating water to a temperature of 55 to 60C. New inverter technology is continually increasing the temperatures these units can achieve. Hot water heat pumps are very effective and efficient in maintaining water temperatures once operating temperatures have been achieved. Thus, hot water heat pumps are best suited to low temperature heating systems such as underfloor heating. They can be used as a heat source for radiator systems but radiators must be oversized to allow for a greater surface area for adequate heat transfer to the conditioned space.

Features ! ! ! Can be very efficient Can also heat domestic hot water Very efficient at maintaining water temperatures even in cold conditions

Considerations ! ! ! If used with radiators they will need to be oversized Less efficient on cold days when heat is most needed The outdoor unit will have some fan and compressor noise associated with it

Gas Boiler
Gas boilers burn reticulated gas or LPG from bottles to heat water for use in hydronic heat systems such as underfloor or radiators. There a number of different types of gas boiler available including conventional boilers, system boilers, combination boilers and condensing boilers. Conventional and system boilers typical require storage (i.e. they must be used in conjunction with a cylinder). With a combination boiler, hot water and central heating requirements are provided from the one unit. As well as providing central heating water into the radiators, it provides all of the domestic water for baths, sinks, and showers. However, the flow rate from an average combi storage boiler does not match the high flow rate from a modern system with a cylinder. A Condensing boiler is designed to recover energy normally discharged to the atmosphere through the flue. When a condensing boiler is working at peak efficiency the water vapour produced by the burning of gas or diesel in the boiler condenses back into liquid water. The boiler uses a heat exchanger so that incoming water cools the exhaust, forcing the condensation of the water vapour it contains; this pre-heats the water. A small proportion of the extra efficiency of the condensing boiler is due to the cooling of the exhaust gases, but the majority of the energy recovered is from the condensation of the water vapor in the exhaust gases. The actual operating efficiency of a condensing boiler depends on the return water temperature.

Features ! ! ! ! Condensing boilers can be very efficient as much as 95% in the right applications Can also heat domestic hot water Higher temperatures produced provides more flexibility Efficiencies remain relatively constant regardless of outdoor temperature

Considerations ! ! If using with LPG bottles will need to replaced often Uncertainty over future gas prices

Diesel Boiler
Diesel boilers burn diesel to heat water for use in hydronic heating systems and heating domestic hot water. Diesel burners are primarily used in rural areas or island type environments where LPG delivery can be expensive. The choice between gas and diesel is usually based on the comparative cost and availability of the two forms of fuel. In the North Island, where natural gas is widely reticulated, a gas boiler is normally preferred. In the South Island, where gas is predominantly supplied to homes via LPG bottles, diesel can be a cheaper option. For the most part there is not much difference in performance, safety, and control features between gas and diesel fired boilers. Condensing diesel are now available The diesel burner will require annual maintenance. The burner requires a fresh fuel filter and burner nozzle every year. If you ignore this your system will tend to smell because it will be running rich with uncombusted fuel out the exhaust. This maintenance is not expensive but it is something that should be done and it's fairly easy for an owner who is halfway mechanically inclined top do on his own which offer efficiencies over 90%. For most councils in New Zealand a consent is required if storing more than 500L of diesel and some require the tanks to have a douple skin for leakage or spills referred to as bunding.

Features ! ! ! ! Condensing boilers can be very efficient Can also heat domestic hot water Many diesel boilers can also burn bio-diesel Flexible for remote sites

Considerations ! ! ! Uncertainty over future cost of diesel High CO2 emissions Requires diesel storage

Combined Heat and Power (CHP): Whispergen

The WhisperGen microCHP unit is designed to be the central component in what is known as a microCHP system. Traditional CHP systems are large scale installations that make use of the heat produced by a power station to provide heating and hot water. This improves the efficiency of the generation process, but has the disadvantage of being limited to use in properties that are located very close to the power station. A microCHP system utilises the same principles, but uses a small scale generating unit that is installed as an alternative to a standard domestic boiler. When operating, the microCHP system generates both electricity and hot water. The electricity produced is available for use in the house and the hot water is used for both central heating and domestic hot water. A microCHP system makes much more efficient use of fuel than a conventional power station and, because it produces electricity very close to the point where it is to be used, does not suffer from transmission losses. The result is much less fuel burnt and consequently less carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Using the electricity generated when the unit is running reduces the amount of electricity that a house must draw from the local distribution network. Any excess electricity generated can be transferred to the local distribution network for a credit, but the maximum benefit comes when the electricity generated is used within the home. In normal operation the WhisperGen microCHP unit will provide around 1000 watts of electrical power. This is enough electricity to run some lights and appliances, but not enough for short term, heavy loads such as electric kettles. When these are in use, additional electricity is drawn from the local distribution network. The quantity of electricity generated and the economic benefits to the user will depend on factors such as the amount of heat the building uses, the energy efficiency of the building, the appliances used, and the usage patterns of the occupants.

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An electrical generator that provides 230 Volt AC power. A Stirling engine that provides the motive power for the generator. A gas burner assembly that provides the heat necessary for the operation of the Stirling engine. A heat exchanger that recovers heat from the hot gases produced by the burner. An auxiliary burner that produces additional heat at times of high demand. An exhaust fan connected to a balanced flue. This provides combustion air for the burner and passes the waste gases from the combustion process to the atmosphere.

Features ! ! ! Can offset electricity use and even feed power back to grid. Can also heat domestic hot water New Zealand developed product

Considerations ! ! ! High capital cost For the most part natural gas is not sufficiently inexpensive in New Zealand to make the investment economic Technical servicing and maintenance is limited within New Zealand

Pellet Boiler
A pellet boiler heats water for use in radiators, underfloor heating, and domestic hot water. Pellet boilers are normally installed along with a hopper (for pellet storage) and an auger (to automatically move pellets from the hopper to the boiler). The boilers come in a variety of sizes and can be matched to almost any heat load. They will usually be located in the garage. Pellet burner are increasingly popular in Europe, the US, and Canada where pellets offer cost competitive alternative to heating oil or gas. For the most part, due to the high cost of pellets in New Zealand, pellet boiler will have higher running costs than other boiler types. Wood pellets are a type of wood fuel, generally made from compacted sawdust. They are usually produced as a byproduct of sawmilling and other wood transformation activities. The pellets are extremely dense and can be produced with a low moisture content (below 10%) that allows them to be burned with a very high combustion efficiency. Further, their regular geometry and small size allow automatic feeding with very fine calibration. They can be fed to a burner by auger feeding or by pneumatic conveying. Their high density also permits compact storage and rational transport over long distance. They can be conveniently blown from a tanker to a storage bunker or silo on a customer's premises. As the price of heating with fossil fuels increases, more capacity for pellet heating has been installed. A large number of models of pellet stoves, central heating furnaces and other heating appliances have been developed and marketed since about 1999. With the surge in the price of fossil fuels in 2005, the demand has increased all over Europe and a sizable industry is emerging.

Features ! ! ! ! Uses a waste product as fuel source Low emissions Can be thermostatically or timer controlled Can reach efficiencies over 90%

Considerations ! ! ! Requires electricity to run (though many now have battery back-up) Some noise associated with auger and fan Pellets still relatively expensive