Evaluation of heat losses from a domestic hot water circulation system

Abstract: Heat losses are an important problem in domestic hot water circulation systems. Therefore, to reduce these losses becomes an issue of utmost importance both economically and environmentally. Nevertheless, it has not been until recent years when these losses have been studied further. Commonly studies have focused on the heat space system operation or radiator system. This study focuses on heat losses in the domestic hot water circulation through the piping system in a building at a school located in Gävle (Sweden) using non-destructive flow and temperature reading devices. The heat used by the school is provided by the district heating network that feeds several heat exchangers. The heat losses, at the same time, will be compared with simulation and theoretical procedures to corroborate them. The domestic hot water piping system of this study consists on more than 1200 meters of insulated copper pipes with different diameters and different insulation thickness. The system was measured for one week (April 26, 2015 to May 3, 2015) when there are working days and nonworking days. A 5% of the annual district heating consumption in the school was calculated as heat losses in the domestic hot water circulation system in the building studied. Finally, improvements in insulation system and changes in the domestic hot water temperature have been simulated and they demonstrate that savings of up to 35% of the heat losses can be achieved and produce significant energy savings.