ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 56
SOLVING PROBLEMS
Column
How Can Designers
Increase Boiler Energy
Efficiency?
INTERVIEW BY MARY KATE MCGOWAN, MANAGING EDITOR
One of the most common errors designers make when selecting and sizing boilers is
not selecting the right size boiler for a project. Having an incorrectly sized boiler can
cause system inefficiencies and short-cycling. But tools and strategies exist that engineers can use to help increase a boiler's energy efficiency from the start of a project.
P2S Inc. Engineers' Kent W. Peterson, P.E., BEAP,
Presidential Member/Fellow ASHRAE; Larry Brown,
P.E., Member ASHRAE; Stephen Kazim, P.E., HFDP,
Associate Member ASHRAE; Chris Miller, P.E., Associate
Member ASHRAE; Scott Newman, P.E., Associate
Member ASHRAE; and Darren Schwend, P.E., Member
ASHRAE, share actionable tips to help increase boiler
energy efficiency.
What Do You Think are the Most Common Errors Designers Make When
Selecting and Sizing Boilers?
1. The most common error is failing to select the right
size boiler(s) for the project. Many of these errors are
a result of sizing a boiler based on peak heating load
alone, while not paying attention to load diversity and
boiler turndown. The turndown ratio has a significant
impact on system performance; lack of consideration
of the boiler system's part-load capability has been
responsible for many systems that either do not function properly or do so at the expense of excess energy
consumption.
56
ASHRAE JOURNAL
ashrae.org
JAN UARY 2021
2. Boilers are selected for a desired temperature differential without checking if the actual temperature
differential can be achieved by the distribution system.
If the distribution heat exchange devices produce a
lower ∆T, the boiler heating capacity will not be realized
in the boiler if the pumping system was designed for a
higher ∆T.
3. Not foreseeing potential problems from boiler
short-cycling by not calculating the minimum circulating system volume and the minimum runtime for the
boiler system. Boilers will short-cycle if there is not
adequate system volume. By calculating these parameters, designers have various options in selecting boiler
sizes, boiler turndown ratio and designing the system's
circulating water volume ito ensure the design allows
for minimum boiler runtime at low-load conditions.
What Steps Can Designers Take to Avoid These Errors?
1. The boiler plant should be sized for the maximum
system load, accounting for piping loss, warm-up loads,
possible diversity, etc. The plant must also operate at the
https://www.ashrae.org/
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - January 2021
Contents
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - Intro
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 1a
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 1b
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 3
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 4
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 6
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 8
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 9
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 10
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 11
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 12
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 13
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 14
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 15
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 16
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 17
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 18
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 19
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 20
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 21
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 22
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 23
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 24
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 25
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 26
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 27
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 28
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 29
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 30
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 31
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 32
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 33
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 34
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 35
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 36
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 37
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 38
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 39
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 40
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 41
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 42
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 43
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 44
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 45
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 46
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 47
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 48
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 49
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 50
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 51
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 52
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 53
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 54
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 55
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 56
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 57
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 58
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 59
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 60
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 61
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 62
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 63
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 64
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 65
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 66
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 67
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 68
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 69
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 70
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 71
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 72
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 73
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 74
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 75
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 76
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 77
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 78
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 79
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 80
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 81
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 82
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 83
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 84
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 85
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 86
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 87
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 88
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 89
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 90
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 91
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 92
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 93
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 94
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 95
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 96
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 97
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 98
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 99
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 100
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 101
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 102
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 103
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 104
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 105
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 106
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 107
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 108
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 109
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 110
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 111
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 112
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ATMAHK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VHQRAW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XGMDXI
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_YELQLJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QJLWMC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_MCDEBX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WNYSQY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XATVOD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FJSHSS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CCBZDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XDEFVG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VHGNBL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WPKBNJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_UUVCDE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTGDEW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LKRFXS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AZSOFG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ERCDBH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QWDFRV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JHGVDF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPUYHG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SREIBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LRTGLK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OKRFGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TZSERA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LVRUIX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RPTVYZ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/mini_pub_catalog
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XIYTGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RFGDOB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PABXNU
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_REMKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PICVBT
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AOYTVW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JQOPLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IOYTBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SGAJJF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IGHYER
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PDRKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XCODFR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QSLFGO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ILKVNM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPDJKD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VJKSRY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDHUTC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JPPKRR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDLTTH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CKLLES
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SLDOX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_HJETUK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OLUHGE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ZERDGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QVMNEO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTPOKE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_BBATRE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_STUBMW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TPEMPE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JNMKDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FBTTPA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WQMMNE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TVBRYN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_KTUZMA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ABEDGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019septmeber_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019september
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019april
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019march
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018december
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraeinsights_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashrae_meetinginsert_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acrexindia
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acma_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acmasupp_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/achr_expo_mexico2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201111_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201109_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com