Heat network optimisation guidance videos
Updated 23 June 2023
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The Heat Network Optimisation Opportunities (HNOO) project and Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) Demonstrator identified a number of issues that consistently compromise heat network performance, and which may severely affect both the cost of heat and the consumer experience.
This series of guidance videos sets out practical steps that heat networks operators can take to improve the performance of their systems.
Video 0: Introduction
This introduction looks at the different types of heat network configurations typically found in the UK and discusses the key principles and topics that are contained in the subsequent guidance videos. This includes data acquisition, analysis and suggested methodologies for implementing change.
Heat Network Optimisation Guidance 0: Introduction
Video 1: Bypasses and controlling network flows
By tackling uncontrolled flows on a heat network, both fuel and energy consumption can be reduced, whilst ensuring the system can better satisfy consumer demands across the far reaches of the network.
Heat network optimisation guidance 1: Getting network flows under control
Video 2: Water quality
Poor water quality is one of the primary causes of heat network failure in the UK. It is the lifeblood of a network and when properly maintained, it will prevent corrosion and minimise the potential for disruption of heat supplies.
Heat network optimisation guidance 2: Performance improvement - improving water quality
Video 3: Return temperatures
A key symptom of poor heat network performance is a high return temperature. By addressing network control issues and the performance of end user systems, return temperatures can be lowered which reduces operating costs and boosts reliability.
Heat Network Optimisation Guidance 3: Performance improvement - reducing return temperatures
Video 4: Flow temperatures
By reducing a network’s flow temperature, the cost of heat can be lowered and overheating minimised - whilst also increasing opportunities for decarbonisation by the retrofitting of heat pumps.
Heat Network Optimisation Guidance 4: Performance improvement - reducing flow temperature
Video 5: Complexity
Many heat networks are overly complex and by introducing measures to simply them, operation and maintenance costs can be significantly lowered, whilst also improving system reliability.
Heat Network Optimisation Guidance 5: Performance improvement - reducing complexity
Video 6: Insulation
By improving the insulation of heat networks, levels of heat loss can be reduced which lowers costs and prevents overheating of the buildings supplied.
Heat Network Optimisation Guidance 6: Performance improvement - insulation
Video 7: Plant room efficiency
Without the efficient operation of a plant room, the benefits targeted by the other optimisation activities discussed in this series of videos cannot be fully realised. This video focusses on ensuring minimal consumption of fuel and electricity, whilst fully satisfying a network’s heat requirements.
Heat Network Optimisation Guidance 7: Performance improvement - plant room efficiency