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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










Parents
  • 0
    I rather doubt that properties without baths would sell very well at all.Imagine trying to bath a small child in the shower, it would be impossible and probably very noisy and wet for the parent as well.


    The idea expressed above of a 4.5 kW continuous load doesn't fly does it? Present supply infrastructure is only about 1kW per property, and this is far too low for electric heating on any scale. Therefore the suggestion is that entire cities have to have much larger supplies installed. Simply not possible due to both cost and huge levels of civil works needed. Then you have not defined where the electricity comes from in the first place, perhaps you are going to suggest gas turbines? Replacing heating of 90% efficiency with a CCGT with 50% efficiency, less distribution losses, is clearly foolish. Countrywide the supply would need to be about 150 GW, more than three times the current generation capacity! The energy we get from domestic gas is much larger than is obvious, say 40 million, 10 or more kW boilers, that is 400GW.


    It is quite clear that a little simple arithmetic and engineering fact finding are well beyond anyone suggesting these ideas. Why do they not consider practicalities over politics? Presently the media thinks electricity is free and available in unlimited quantities. Of course the opposite is true, it is getting more expensive by the day and supplies are dangerously short. The answer must be that lying to the public has some other motive, and a little study will rapidly find that answer too. The end of the world may be closer than you think, but not because of "climate change".
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  • 0
    I rather doubt that properties without baths would sell very well at all.Imagine trying to bath a small child in the shower, it would be impossible and probably very noisy and wet for the parent as well.


    The idea expressed above of a 4.5 kW continuous load doesn't fly does it? Present supply infrastructure is only about 1kW per property, and this is far too low for electric heating on any scale. Therefore the suggestion is that entire cities have to have much larger supplies installed. Simply not possible due to both cost and huge levels of civil works needed. Then you have not defined where the electricity comes from in the first place, perhaps you are going to suggest gas turbines? Replacing heating of 90% efficiency with a CCGT with 50% efficiency, less distribution losses, is clearly foolish. Countrywide the supply would need to be about 150 GW, more than three times the current generation capacity! The energy we get from domestic gas is much larger than is obvious, say 40 million, 10 or more kW boilers, that is 400GW.


    It is quite clear that a little simple arithmetic and engineering fact finding are well beyond anyone suggesting these ideas. Why do they not consider practicalities over politics? Presently the media thinks electricity is free and available in unlimited quantities. Of course the opposite is true, it is getting more expensive by the day and supplies are dangerously short. The answer must be that lying to the public has some other motive, and a little study will rapidly find that answer too. The end of the world may be closer than you think, but not because of "climate change".
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