Evaluating the Energy Consumption and Heat Loss in the Hot Water Supply and Heating Systems of a Nursing Home

Syracuse, NY

The demand for nursing homes has increased recently due to an increase in the aging population in Japan. Nursing homes are generally equipped with hot water supply and heating systems for bathing, preparing meals, and heating rooms. This equipment utilizes a considerable amount of energy. Few studies have measured heat loss from the hot water supply and heating systems in such facilities. This study evaluated the hot water supply and heating systems of a nursing home located in a cold climate area in Japan. The temperature and flow rate of the hot water were continuously measured, and the energy consumption and heat loss for each subsystem were calculated. These results clarified that the energy consumption in the hot water supply subsystem was slightly larger than that in heating subsystem. Inefficiencies of the system were also continuously evaluated throughout the study. Heat losses in piping attributed to 38% of the total energy consumed by the hot water supply subsystem. Subsequently, a thermal analysis of the hot water subsystem was performed. The calculated return temperature agreed with the measured return temperatures when the resistance of thermal insulation was decreased by an average of 45%; this result was possibly due to the deterioration of thermal insulation materials or the presence of thermal bridges.

https://surface.syr.edu/ibpc/2018/EC1/3