|
|
Article: Thermal accumulators: another European concept that will eventually show up in North America.(Hydronics WORKSHOP)
- Article from:
- Plumbing & Mechanical
- Article date:
- June 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 BNP Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
A significant advantage of hydronic heating is the ability to use heat from a wide variety of heat sources. These include traditional devices such as gas- and oil-fired boilers, as well as alternative sources such as geothermal heat pumps, solar collectors, wood-fired boilers and waste heat recovery.
The availability of heat from some of these sources is sporadic. Obviously, solar input only occurs when the sun is out, and heat from a wood-fired or pellet-fired device is only available when the fire is burning. Heat input from a geothermal heat pump might only be economically desirable during periods of low off-peak utility rates. To further complicate matters, ...