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Electric boilers - effect on power demand of a block of flats

donf
Hello there.


I would like to  know if anyone on the forum has done a study of or knows about an existing study of the impact on power demand of introducing electric boilers to block of flats. 


I have been tasked with estimating the impact of a gradual migration to electric boilers for central and water heating in a modern block of flats. Nearly all of the flats currently use gas fired combi boilers.


I then have to present this information to UK Power Networks so that they can asses whether or not an increase in capacity to the building supply might be needed in future.  Finally I need to put any recommendations to the owners' management board.


Clearly electric boilers will have some impact on power demand.


I can start with an estimate of current power demand (worst case) for a typical flat.  To that end, I'll be doing a survey of about 25% of the flats to come up with a figure.


I can then apply the IET Electrical Installation Design Guide diversity calculations for a typical flat and then the building as a whole using figure 3.4 (IET Electrical Design Guide Nov 2008 page 33).


I can then do a second power consumption exercise adding the demand of a typical electric boiler per flat and then the whole building.


However, it's not clear to me if this approach will be suitable for a massive migration to electric boilers.  I need to be sure of my ground if I approach UK Power Networks with a demand figure.


If we look at the usual peak use of heating demand (morning and evening) a building full of electric boilers, to me, could add a significant load to existing street fuses and possibly even cable capacity.


I would be grateful for any suggestions and experience people could bring.


Kind regards


donf










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  • 0
    An electric boiler will be virtually 100% efficient, where else can the electrical input go, except into heating the water ?

    It still represents a substantial extra load if heating was formerly by gas.


    For a relatively small number of flats, only a very little diversity may sensibly be applied. Consider a block of say 30 flats, 10 per phase, and all fitted with 10KW electric boilers. It might be overly pessimistic to assume that every one will operate at the same time, but I would certainly allow for 8 out of 10 operating simultaneously.

    10 flats, each using say 5 amps for lighting and small appliances, and 8 of 10 flats each using 45 amps for the boiler. I make that a total loading of over 400 amps per phase.


    Over a larger area, with diverse types of dwellings and inhabitants, a much lower average load figure is a reasonably safe assumption. With only modest numbers, the risks of simultaneous operation increases.
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  • 0
    An electric boiler will be virtually 100% efficient, where else can the electrical input go, except into heating the water ?

    It still represents a substantial extra load if heating was formerly by gas.


    For a relatively small number of flats, only a very little diversity may sensibly be applied. Consider a block of say 30 flats, 10 per phase, and all fitted with 10KW electric boilers. It might be overly pessimistic to assume that every one will operate at the same time, but I would certainly allow for 8 out of 10 operating simultaneously.

    10 flats, each using say 5 amps for lighting and small appliances, and 8 of 10 flats each using 45 amps for the boiler. I make that a total loading of over 400 amps per phase.


    Over a larger area, with diverse types of dwellings and inhabitants, a much lower average load figure is a reasonably safe assumption. With only modest numbers, the risks of simultaneous operation increases.
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