24 - FUNDAMENTALS OF HEAT METERING IN HYDRONIC SYSTEMS

Although relatively new to North America, heat metering has many practical applications.  One is verifying if a heating (or cooling) source is producing its expected thermal output.  One example is a solar thermal heating system.  The heat output of the solar collector array, as well as the balance of system can be accurately measured over any period of time.  In some cases, financial incentive from government agencies for solar thermal or other types of renewal thermal energy systems are based upon verified performance, which can only be measured using heat meters.

This issue of idronics elaborates on the benefits of heat metering in hydronic systems.  It also explains the technical concepts used and illustrates how heat meters can be integrated into several different applications.