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HEAT NETWORKS | OPTIMISING PERFORMANCE AIMING TO BE A HEAT NETWORK GOAT Improvements made to a heat network at Goat Wharf in Brentford have eliminated overheating and lowered heating costs Goat Wharf is an 86-dwelling Notting Hill Genesis housing development located in Brentford, with a mix of private and affordable rent. The heating and hot water are provided to residents via a communal heat network. The performance optimisation project included site audits, onsite testing and inspections, and analysis of performance data. Once the analysis was complete and the root causes for poor performance were identified, a fully costed business case was developed for the improvement works. A programme of works was rolled out, which included replacing the poorly performing HIUs with a new HIU unit in every dwelling, reducing the operating temperatures across the network through recommissioning and installing a new metering system linked to an online analytics platform employing machine learning algorithms. Within the plantroom, the main circulation pumps were replaced with smaller, more efficient units, and a water filtration system was installed to address water-quality issues on the main system. As this was a retrofit project in an The project achieved a reduction in the heating network flow temperature, from 80C to 65C, resulting in much lower heat losses and lower heat costs occupied development, resident engagement was critical. So, the project began with an onsite kick-off meeting, attended by all stakeholders. Here, detailed surveys were undertaken to establish the best approach to installation that would cause minimal disruption to residents including those residents with limited mobility. Meeting on site meant that the contractor, Sycous, could identify several problems, including the original use of incorrect materials. This allowed a resolution to be agreed before wider installations and All district energy installations need high performing heat exchangers without disruptions to the programme. A commercial hub utility management device was installed in each dwelling. The fine-grained network performance data captured by each hub was then analysed using a commercial online Pinpoint performance monitoring platform, as part of the post-installation monitoring process. This allowed the progress of the installation project to be checked and the impact of the works quantified. The project achieved a reduction in the heating network flow temperature, from 80C to 65C, resulting in much lower heat losses, lower heat costs, and no further complaints of overheating from residents. In addition, the pump replacement works have resulted in a 2,000 per year saving, which is a cost reduction of 90% compared with the previous installation. Cat Avenell-Pankhurst, of Notting Hill Genesis, said: Were happy with the result of the project at Goat Wharf. The improvement to the network has meant the system is now much more reliable and well be able to offer more affordable tariffs to our residents. Heat exchangers play a crucial role to the transfer of heat from the heat network into our buildings. Designers working with Hysopt can now select SWEP heat exchangers within their digital model and the Hysopt software will automatically select the most optimum heat exchanger and hydraulic components of the entire system. CHALLENGE EFFICIENCY Selecting the best heat exchanger in the design phase will help you to design energy-efficient installations, optimised design volume flow, return temperature and pressure drop performance with long-term benefits and CAPEX and OPEX savings. 40 August 2022 www.cibsejournal.com info@swep.net www.swep.net