Boilers are used to produce steam or hot water for space heating, domestic hot water, process heat or steam needs, or other applications like pools, snow melt, etc. A single boiler system can serve multiple applications.
Multiple boilers can serve a single system to optimize efficiency with varying load and to provide redundancy. Boiler systems are mostly operated at a small fraction of their design capacity. Efficiencies at part load can vary significantly from rated efficiencies. Boilers are not typically replaced as retrofit measures because the expense and complication of the replacement is significantly great than typical benefits or efficiency gains.
This standard protocol is intended to support programs by portraying boiler systems more accurately. It includes loading order, seasonal efficiency, estimates of loads and loadshapes by building type, area served, and end use and applies to both space heating and water heating applications.
