ABSTRACT
This chapter consists of three parts and deals with the methodology and techniques for measuring the physical quantities involved, with the final aim of determining the efficiency of heat generation systems such as gas-, liquid-, and solid-fired hot water boilers for space heating. The first part analyzes the process of determining the energy efficiency of the boiler. The investigation of energy performance of heat generation systems can be evaluated by two different approaches. The first approach considers permanent conditions and uses the efficiency of the boiler–burner assembly, calculated by direct or indirect method. The second approach uses energy balances usually for one year, hence calculating the annual efficiency of the heating installation. In this chapter, the investigation of energy performance will focus on the first approach, based on relevant European standards. The second part presents a typical test facility, including the techniques for measuring the physical parameters, their requirements, and the accuracy of the measuring instruments necessary to determine the energy performance and the composition of the exhaust flue gas. The third part presents the proposed method of calculating the uncertainty of the results, resulting from the determination of the boiler efficiency and the composition of the exhaust flue gas. The main calculated values, for which the measurement uncertainty is calculated, are the useful heat output, the thermal heat input, and the efficiency for the nominal and part load operation of boiler–burner system.
