BOILERS & HOT WATER
Maintaining healthy levels of heating and hot water
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Healthcare applications must balance heating and hot water demands with the latest energy efficiency requirements. Thanks to advances in modern heating technology, upgrading their boilers to the latest models offers a wealth of benefits, as Adam Johnson, southern regional sales manager at ATAG Commercial, explains
ospitals and other healthcare facilities (such as GP surgeries, care homes and dental practices) require a reliable supply of heat and hot water in order to maintain a safe
and comfortable indoor environment for patients and staff alike. Commercial boilers are the backbone of healthcare facilities’ heating systems. Not only do they ensure heating is supplied to key spaces such as wards, treatment areas, corridors and waiting rooms, units are equally crucial for providing adequate hot water for handwashing, showering and cleaning medical equipment. However, with hospitals and healthcare buildings contributing 15% of the NHS’s total carbon emissions*, changing the way in which hospital estates and facilities use heating and hot water is an essential in the ongoing quest to reduce carbon emissions. In fact, UK hospitals have long been reliant upon different types of legacy heating systems and, given that some of these are more than 40 years old, it is no surprise to learn they are running inefficiently! Fortunately, thanks to heating manufacturers making significant progress in terms of boiler design and engineering, there are many products available capable of providing the necessary levels of heating and hot water for healthcare applications without compromising on quality.
Replacing antiquated, wasteful boilers in healthcare premises with modern, high- efficiency condensing models is a great method of achieving significant energy savings, as well as reducing harmful CO and NOx emissions. In recent years, manufacturers have made vast strides in the design and engineering of modern boilers, particularly the latest light commercial wall hung units. Advances in boiler technology have resulted in improved levels of performance, especially in key components, such as the heat exchanger, pump and controls, which have key roles to play in maximising reliability and efficiency. Modern heat exchanger technology can maximise levels of heat transfer without compromising reliability. The key reasons for this are a combination of stainless steel construction, coupled with the multiple, specially-engineered
pipes inside the component; the latter ensures high levels of heat transference and condensation can be achieved. In order to achieve maximum efficiency, the latest heat exchangers have been designed to enhance transference of thermal energy from the burner into the system water. To achieve maximum absorbance of heat, both the water’s turbulence and flow rate are pivotal; this is where the pump comes into play. It is the job of a modulating circulation pump to ensure the water inside the heat exchanger is kept in a turbulent state. This turbulence is responsible for agitating the waterflow, which removes any insulating barrier between the heated water and the wall of the heat exchanger – in turn ensuring a rapid and efficient transfer of heat.
Due to the pump moving water around inside a small closed system (between the boiler and the low loss header or heat exchanger, depending of the application), it does not expend a lot of energy; plus, the turbulent flow of the water also helps preserve the lifespan of the heat exchanger itself by reducing the build-up of any precipitates on the heat transfer surface.
The latest light commercial boilers, such as
ATAG Commercial’s own XL-W and XL-F ranges, utilise intelligent built-in, modulating pumps, to constantly monitor the flow rate, enabling the heat exchanger to reach and maintain set-point temperature, while minimising energy input. (These boilers also benefit from dual heat exchanger technology, so should one component fail, there is built-in redundancy to ensure they can still operate effectively, without compromising patients and hospital staff.) When looking to replace aged commercial boilers, another key consideration is the exhaust gases – particularly the NOx emissions. Boilers with specially designed combustion zones inside the heat exchanger will minimise the formation of harmful NOx and CO gases. Now, when healthcare facilities are looking to increase efficiency and reduce overall energy usage, a boiler’s overall modulation, or turndown, must be considered, particularly as heating requirements vary from season to season (with more heat naturally required during the winter months). Boilers with wide modulation ratios not only improve efficiency, they also reduce wear and tear on components. This ratio is a boiler’s ability to reduce its maximum output to its minimum output, with a wider range being the preferred option. Products boasting
22 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2023
a minimum output that is one tenth (1:10) of the maximum output are considered to have an excellent modulation ratio. Energy efficiency is further enhanced by controllability, with built-in cascade boiler controls now commonplace in new commercial units. Incorporating these as part of the main boiler removes the need for additional, external controls, although it is important to consider enhanced connectivity options for easy integration with building management systems (BMS). Compatibility with common data protocols used in building automation, such as BACNET, MODbus, LONbus and KNX, aids integration with BMS, further optimising overall system efficiency. Commercial boilers remain indispensable to healthcare applications, helping to provide reliable levels of heating and hot water. Hospitals can reap numerous benefits by adopting the latest energy efficient boiler technologies, including reduced operational costs, enhanced patient care, and a smaller carbon footprint. As the healthcare sector strives to reduce its emissions, facilities utilising high quality boilers that are well managed and correctly maintained will ensure high levels of reliability and efficiency for the foreseeable future.
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