The determination of the amount of costs for centralized or autonomous heating of a private house is carried out at the construction design stage, or before choosing the type of energy carrier or the optimal model of a boiler unit.
What factors are taken into account when calculating the gas consumption for heating a house, and how, without resorting to the services of specialists, to determine the average consumption based on a simplified methodology, we will consider in our article.
Determining factors of gas mixture consumption
Heating a house using natural gas today is considered the most popular and convenient. But in view of the rise in price of "blue fuel" the financial costs of homeowners have increased significantly. And therefore, most zealous owners today care about the average gas consumption for heating a house.
The main parameter in calculating the fuel consumption spent on heating a country house is the heat loss of the building.
Well, if the owners of the house took care of this even during the design. But in most cases, in practice, it turns out that only a small part of homeowners know the heat loss of their buildings.
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Wall model for installation in an apartment or in a country house
Boiler capacity for single-circuit gas model
Installation of gas condensing boilers
Power limits of condensing boilers
Condensation versus conventional model
The consumption of the gas mixture directly depends on the efficiency and power of the boiler.
No less influence is also exerted by:
- climatic conditions of the region;
- design features of the building;
- number and type of windows installed;
- area and height of ceilings in the premises;
- thermal conductivity of applied building materials;
- quality of insulation of the exterior walls of the house.
Keep in mind that the recommended rated power of the installed unit demonstrates its maximum capabilities. It will always be slightly higher than the operating indicators of the unit, functioning in normal mode when heating a particular building.
The power of the installed unit is calculated in strict accordance with the current regulatory requirements, taking into account all the above factors
For example, if the boiler rated power is 15 kW, then the system will really function effectively with a thermal power of about 12 kW. The power reserve of about 20% is recommended by specialists in case of accidents and in excess of cold winters.
Therefore, when calculating fuel consumption, one should focus on real data, and not be based on maximum values calculated for short-term operation in emergency mode.
It is recommended to buy a gas unit with a power reserve of approximately 20% in case of emergencies and cold winters. For example, if the calculated thermal power is 10 kW, then it is recommended to purchase equipment with a rated power of 12 kW
Average flow rate calculator
The nominal gas flow rate for the past heating period is not so difficult to calculate. It is only necessary to take the meter readings every month. After the season, summarize the monthly readings. Then calculate the arithmetic mean value.
If you need to find out the nominal values at the design stage of the house, or when choosing effective, but at the same time economical heating equipment, you will have to use formulas.
When arranging autonomous heating of a country cottage or apartment, the averaged parameters are used when determining heat losses
To obtain approximate calculations, the specific heat consumption is determined in two ways:
- Focusing on the total volume of heated rooms. Depending on the region, 30-40 watts are allocated for heating one cubic meter.
- By the total square of the building. They take as the basis that 100 W of heat is spent on heating each square of the area of the rooms, the wall height of which reaches an average of 3 meters, on average. When determining the value, they also focus on the region of residence: for southern latitudes - 80 W / m2, for the north - 200 W / m2.
The main criterion, which is mandatory to be guided by in the calculations, is the necessary heat capacity to ensure conditions of high-quality heating of the premises and replenishment of its heat losses.
The basis of technological calculations is the average proportion at which 1 kW of thermal energy is spent on 10 squares of area. But it is worth considering that such an averaged approach, although convenient, is still not sufficiently able to reflect the real conditions of your construction, taking into account the climatic region of its location.
Using a simplified calculation method, it is taken as the basis that for heating 10 square meters of a private house, 1 kW of the thermal power generated by the generator is required
Having correctly calculated the estimated fuel consumption, you can clarify for yourself what measures should be taken to reduce its consumption. As a result, reduce the regular payments for the consumed "blue fuel".
Network gas for heating
G20 gas mixture flows to private houses from a centralized highway. In accordance with the adopted standard DIN EN 437, the minimum value of the specific heat for the combustion of fuel grade G 20 is 34.02 MJ / cubic meter.
If a highly efficient condenser boiler is installed, the minimum specific heat for “blue fuel” of category G 20 is 37.78 MJ / cu. meter.
You can order a calculation of the heat loss of a residential building in order to compile “accounting” of seasonal costs and to clarify for yourself whether there is a need for insulation, in the design organization
The formula for calculating fuel consumption
To determine the gas flow rate, taking into account the energy potential laid down in it, a simple formula is used:
V = Q / (Hi x Efficiency)
Where:
- V - the desired value, which determines the gas flow for the generation of thermal energy, is measured in cubic meters / hour;
- Q - the value of the estimated thermal power spent to heat the building and ensure comfortable conditions is measured in W / h;
- Hi - the value of the minimum value of specific heat during the combustion of fuel;
- Efficiency - boiler efficiency.
The efficiency of the boiler generator shows the efficiency of the use of the thermal energy generated during the combustion of the gas mixture, which is directly spent on heating the heat carrier. It is a passport value.
In the passports of modern boiler units, the coefficient is indicated by two parameters: the highest and lowest calorific value. Both values are prescribed through the fractional line “Hs / Hi”, for example: 95/87%. To obtain the most reliable calculation, they take the basis indicated in the "Hi" mode as the basis.
The lowest value of specific heat of gas combustion is a tabular value, the parameters of which correspond to the accepted standards DIN EN 437
The value “Hs” indicated in the table determines the highest indicator of the calorific value of gas. It is indicated in the table for the reason that the water vapor released during gas combustion is also capable of converting latent thermal energy. If you correctly use this thermal energy, then you can increase the total return on the spent fuel.
The work of a new generation of boilers — condenser units — is built on this principle. In them, due to the conversion of steam into an aggregate liquid state, about 10% of heat is additionally generated.
In addition to gas of the G20 brand, an analog of the second group of the G 25 brand can also be used for domestic purposes. G 20 gas is produced from Siberian fields, and G25 is supplied from Turkmenistan and the Volga region. The difference between the two is that G25 emits 15% less heat when burned.
G25 gas is characterized by a high percentage of nitrogen, due to which its energy potential is 15% lower than the natural analogue of G20
You can specify what type of gas "flows" in the mains at the gas supply company in your region.
Example of calculating network gas consumption
We propose to consider an example of calculating the gas consumption for heating a country cottage, the initial data of which have the following parameters:
- the area of premises reaches 100 square meters. meters;
- recommended power of the heat generator - 10 kW;
- The boiler efficiency reaches 95%.
To simplify the calculation, joules are converted to another unit of measure - kilowatts. So, provided that 1 kW = 3.6 MJ, the heat of combustion of gas of grade G 20 will be 34.02 / 3.6 = 9.45 kW.
It is also worth considering that the recommended power of the heat generator, indicated as 10 kW, is required only for heating the premises under the most adverse conditions. In fact, throughout the heating period, the number of such adverse days will be calculated in units.
With a well-designed and equipped heating system, the installed boiler will definitely not work around the clock
On the remaining days of the cold season, much less power is required to heat the building. Therefore, to obtain correct calculations, as well as to determine the average and not peak consumption of “blue fuel”, the boiler power readings are taken not “10 kW”, but “half” 5 kW.
Substituting the obtained data in the formula, perform the calculations: V = 5 / (9.45 x 0.95). It turns out that for heating a cottage with an area of 100 squares, the gas consumption leaves 0.557 cubic meters per hour.
Having specified the tariffs for paying one cubic meter of “blue fuel” it will not be difficult to calculate material costs for the entire heating period
Based on the data obtained by simple calculations, it will not be difficult to calculate the gas consumption for the whole heating season, which lasts about 7 months in regions of medium latitude:
- For a day it is 0.557 x 24 = 13.37 m3.
- For a month 13.37 x 30 = 401.1 m3.
- For the heating season lasting 7 months 401.1 x 7 = 2807, 4 m3.
Knowing the price of one cubic meter of “blue fuel”, it will not be difficult to plan both monthly expenses and “accounting” for the entire functioning of the heating system.
The consumption of liquefied propane-butane mixture
Not all owners of country houses have the opportunity to connect to a centralized gas pipeline. Then get out of the situation using liquefied gas. It is stored in gas tanks installed in pits, and replenished using the services of certified companies that supply fuel.
Liquefied gas used for domestic purposes is stored in sealed containers and tanks - propane-butane cylinders, with a volume of 50 liters, or gas holders
If liquefied gas is used to heat a country house, the calculation formula is taken as the basis. The only thing - it is necessary to consider that bottled gas is a mixture of brand G30. In addition, the fuel is in an aggregate state. And therefore, its consumption is considered in liters or kilograms.
The formula for calculating the consumption of a combustible mixture
A simple calculation will help to estimate the costs of a liquefied propane-butane mixture. The initial data for the construction are the same: a cottage with an area of 100 squares, and the efficiency of the installed boiler is 95%.
When calculating, it should be borne in mind that fifty-liter propane-butane cylinders for safety purposes fill no more than 85%, which is about 42.5 liters
When performing the calculation, they are guided by two significant physical characteristics of the liquefied mixture:
- the density of the balloon gas is 0.524 kg / l .;
- the heat released during the combustion of one kilogram of such a mixture is equal to 45.2 MJ / kg.
To facilitate calculations, the values of the released heat, measured in kilograms, are converted to another unit of measurement - liters: 45.2 x 0.524 = 23.68 MJ / l.
After that, the joules are converted into kilowatts: 23.68 / 3.6 = 6.58 kW / l. To get the correct calculations, the same 50% of the recommended unit power is taken as the basis, which is 5 kW.
The obtained values are substituted into the formula: V = 5 / (6.58 x 0.95). It turns out that the consumption of the fuel mixture brand G 30 is 0.8 l / h.
Example of calculating the flow of liquefied gas
Knowing that in one hour of operation of a boiler generator, an average of 0.8 liters of fuel is consumed, it will not be difficult to calculate that one standard cylinder with a filling volume of 42 liters is enough for approximately 52 hours. This is a little more than two days.
For the entire heating period, the flow rate of the combustible mixture will be:
- For a day 0.8 x 24 = 19.2 liters;
- For a month 19.2 x 30 = 576 liters;
- For the heating season lasting 7 months 576 x 7 = 4032 liters.
For heating a cottage with an area of 100 squares, you will need: 576 / 42.5 = 13 or 14 cylinders. For the entire seven-month heating season, 4032 / 42.5 = 95 to 100 cylinders will be needed.
To accurately calculate the number of propane-butane cylinders needed to heat the cottage for a month, you need to divide the monthly consumed volume of 576 liters by the capacity of one such cylinder
A large amount of fuel, taking into account transport costs and creating conditions for its storage, will cost not cheap. But nevertheless, in comparison with the same electric heating, such a solution to the problem will still be more economical, and therefore preferable.
Ways to reduce consumption
The main reason for significant heat loss, which leads to inefficient spending of the heat generated by the boiler, is the insufficient insulation of the structural elements of the house. Through “cold bridges” up to 40% of heat is wasted in vain.
Through windows with poor-quality frames, up to 35% of the heat generated by the boiler flows out, through the walls of the house - up to 25%, and through the roof and entrance doors - up to 15%
In order not to waste money every time, heating the street, it is better to spend money on quality insulation of the building once. Believe that the cost of it will fully pay off in 3-4 years.
Thermal insulation of a house includes:
- Wall insulation. The easiest to implement and affordable option is the installation of polystyrene foam panels. The thickness of the panels is chosen, focusing on the climatic conditions of the region of construction, the thickness of the walls of the building and the type of material used in their construction.
- Insulation of the roof or attic floor. For these purposes, wood sawdust, mineral wool or tiled polystyrene foam is used. Insulating material produced in the form of slabs is mounted on the inner walls of the attic space or placed between the floor beams.
- Floor insulation. Good thermal insulation requires not only concrete, but also wooden structures. Bulk and plate materials such as expanded clay and expanded polystyrene are used to form a thermally insulating layer.
- Window replacement. The most reliable shield that does not allow the penetration of cold inside heated rooms will be PVC windows with high-quality double-glazed windows. They are made for a specific window. Due to this, they hermetically close the window opening, reliably protecting households not only from the "leak" of heat, but also the penetration of street noise.
A competent thermal insulation device allows you to reduce heat loss to minimum values.
In addition to high-quality insulation to increase the efficiency of thermal return, experts recommend the use of other equally effective measures
Among the additional measures to improve the efficiency of heat transfer, experts include:
- Equipment for radiators with thermostatic devices. Thermal heads will maintain the necessary comfortable temperature in the rooms.
- In addition to radiators, install convectors with a directional circulation function. They in the area of openings will create thermal curtains from the heated air.
- Connecting equipment that allows you to program optimal heating modes. The installation of chronometric thermostats is effective if there are rooms in the house that are empty for several days, which does not make sense to heat intensively.
The costs of acquiring and installing automation will more than pay off during the first heating season.
And finally, it's worth reviewing if the system is too busy. It is possible that it produces excess heat. And it is likely that without compromising the comfort of households, you can reduce the temperature in the rooms by a couple of degrees.
At first glance - a trifle. But, considering the situation on a scale of at least one month, and even more so the heating season, such a decision can have a beneficial effect on the wallet.
One of the options for calculating the consumption of network gas:
Example flow rate for heating with liquefied gas:
Simple ways to reduce gas costs will be discussed in the following video:
The average value of the calculation will be useful for calculating material costs exclusively for heating the building. When planning to use gas appliances or a stove during the heating season, the data should be adjusted.
If after studying the material you have questions about gas flow calculations, you can ask them in the block below. In addition, if inaccuracies were noticed or you would like to supplement the material, please leave your comments.