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Renewables
Flying the flag for renewables
Dave Playfoot from heating, cooling and plumbing specialist, Uponor, discusses a recent renewables-based district heating scheme at a social housing development in Norfolk
T
he energy efficiency and reduced maintenance benefits of district heating installations offer particular advantages for the social housing sector. Housing providers are looking for heating solutions that will address the issue of fuel poverty and enable their tenants to use their heating whenever they need to, without worrying about the cost. They also want a reliable system that will be effective and efficient for occupiers while minimising maintenance costs and resources. And when servicing, routine checks and maintenance are required, district heating systems’ centralised plant enables work to be carried out without having to gain access to individual properties, which is often a cause of disruption to tenants and a scheduling minefield for housing providers. When installed in combination with renewable energy sources, these benefits
are even greater, as affordable housing provider, Flagship Group, has recently proved with an installation involving two 60kW Lampoassa ground source heat pumps, a 2,400 litre thermal store and 220m of Uponor Ecoflex pre-insulated pipe at a small development in the village of Watton, South Norfolk.
Cost and management benefits
Orchard Close in Watton is a cul-de-sac of 30 flats where the original Economy 7 heating system had proved inefficient and expensive to run, becoming increasingly onerous as energy prices have risen. Moreover, with storage heaters in every property, Flagship’s maintenance teams had to gain access to each flat for annual checks and routine maintenance. As part of Flagship’s Wellbeing Plan for continual improvement in energy use
and carbon emissions, the company decided to install a district heating system, opting for a ground-source heat pump system to maximise the carbon reduction benefits and qualify for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) funding, while also delivering significant savings on bills for its customers.
Efficient and reliable
Renewable heating specialist, Finn Geotherm, designed, specified and installed the district heating system selecting two 60kW Lampoassa ground source heat pumps for the project, linked to a 2,400 litre thermal store. The dual thermal store installation means that there is resilience in the system should one of the heat pumps need to be taken offline for maintenance. All the equipment is located centrally in an external plant room, with Ofgem heat meters to provide the data for RHI requirements. Each flat has its own HIU, hot water radiator circuit and hot water tank along with an individual meter for every property to ensure accurate consumption- based billing for each tenant. Finn Geotherm specified Uponor’s pre-insulated Ecoflex pipe for the district heating system pipe infrastructure, along with the company’s Q&E Shrink Fit System pipe connectors. This enabled heat loss within the primary distribution circuit to be minimised, scoring against Finn Geotherm’s objective of achieving maximum system efficiency. The flexible pre-insulated Ecoflex pipe has been used in a wide range of heating and cooling systems across Europe over the past 20 years, providing a robust and durable infrastructure below ground and enabling the pipework to fit around natural contours and obstacles on site. A total of 220 metres of Ecoflex
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Uponor’s Ecoflex pipe was central to a renewables- based district heating scheme in Norfolk
Uponor’s Dave Playfoot
was installed, with 50mm thermos twin dual pipe used to provide flow and return for the main spine and 32mm thermos twin dual core pipe used to create the localised connections to the properties.
Quick and easy
Speed and ease of installation of the pipe network was mission critical because all the properties remained occupied during the project and heating and hot water services had to remain operational while the project was completed.
Pipe availability thanks to Uponor’s UK stock holding was a key factor in this regard and the benefits offered by the Q&E Shrink Fit System fittings also played a significant part as they enabled the project team to reduce both the cost of materials and the labour costs associated with the scheme while ensuring the integrity of every joint. Every property required two tee joints to connect the HIU to the infrastructure and the Q&E Shrink Fit System fittings reduced the time required for each joint by 30% as compared to conventional external jointing fittings. Uponor provided Q&E Shrink Fit System fitting training for the Finn
Geotherm team to help them maximise the benefits of the system on site. The supply arrangement also included provision of a specialist tool to expand the end of the pipe so that each fitting could be inserted into the pipe. When the expander tool is removed the pipe contracts to its original shape, securely fixing the joint in place inside the pipe casing.
The Finn Geotherm team put the utmost care into minimising disruption for
tenants, lifting individual paving stones and sections of turf to enable the pipework infrastructure to be laid, then carefully replacing them. The district heating system at Orchard Close is now complete and fully
operational, with an anticipated service life of 35 years. The project has successfully contributed to Flagship’s carbon reduction aims while reducing tenant’s heating bills by two thirds. It is hoped that increased affordability will encourage tenants to use their heating more liberally, not only giving them a warm, more comfortable home during the colder months but also helping to protect both the properties and their occupants from the symptoms of damp.
August 2018
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