09/03/2015

Selection of DHW supply temperature

from instantaneous plate heat exchangers

General principle and energy efficiency

As a general principle heating and DHW systems should be operated and designed to ensure
that a satisfactory thermal indoor environment is attained with the lowest possible energy
consumption and avoidance of unnecessary energy wastage. Therefore, the DHW flow
temperature should be as low as possible – without compromising DHW comfort
unreasonably.

Guidance
As part of efforts to increase energy efficiency through the lowering of system supply
temperatures BRE (Building Research Establishment) refers to typical DHW temperature
requirements in the range of 45–50°C.
The supply temperature should not be reduced below the level required to provide an
adequate recovery time for DHW storage cylinders. Also, stored DHW must be maintained
above 60 °C to prevent growth of legionella bacteria. This effectively sets a lower limit of 70
°C for the flow temperature. However, where instantaneous hot water heating is used and
pipe lengths are short there is a reduced risk of legionella as water is not stored and a lower
DH flow temperature of 60 °C could be used, limited by the 45–50 °C typical DHW temperature
requirement.
(A technical guide to district heating, BRE, 2014)

Scaling of plate heat exchangers

Danfoss District Heating and SAV Systems recommend that heating of DHW (secondary side
of plate heat exchanger) above 55°C should be avoided to prevent build-up of lime scale
(mainly when the water is flowing at low velocity or standing still). Reduced capacity of heat
exchangers caused by lime precipitation and scaling is not covered by the product warranty.
User comfort
In practice it is hard to imagine the need for temperatures above 55C from any residential
end-user, as this might lead to severe scalding. BRE notes the following:
The degree of scalding depends on the temperature and volume of hot water, and the length
of time the body is exposed to it. However, it can take only seconds for a severe scald to occur.
Research (Waller et al, 1993) indicates that:
As the temperature of the water increases above 50°C, the duration of exposure needed to
suffer third-degree burns decreases rapidly. Healthy adult skin requires 30 seconds of exposure
to water at 54°C – 55°C before third-degree burning occurs, but only 5 seconds at 60°C and
less than one second at 70°C. However, the skin of children and the elderly is even more
sensitive to extreme temperatures.
(Preventing hot water scalding in bathrooms: using TMVs, BRE, 2003)
As part of a recent practical demonstration project in Denmark a “real-life” operating district
heating scheme was used to demonstrate how system temperatures could be lowered to
improve energy efficiency while maintaining end-user satisfaction. System supply
temperatures were around 50C while DHW flow temperature averaged 40-45°C over a two-
year period with no complaints from any of the residents (Results and experiences from a 2 -
year study with measurements on a low - temperature DH system for low energy buildings,
Technical University of Denmark, Danish Technological Institute, Danfoss, COWI, 2012).