heatingthroughinnovation.

The Essential Guide to Panel Radiators with Low Temperature Heating Systems

MYSON

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In today’s world of rising fuel prices and growing environmental concerns, high energy usage has become aproblem that urgently needs to be addressed. Whilst providing indoor comfort remains the key objective forheating companies, the big industry challenge is how to achieve this aim in a more energy efficient and cost effective way.

Continuous innovation is the key to meeting this challenge.This is why we have recently seen the introduction andgrowth of high efficiency, low temperature heating systems.Existing products, such as panel radiators, have also beensignificantly improved by the addition of new, energy efficient heating technology.

More InnovationMore Efficiency

Currently in the UK, we still use large amounts of energy to heat our buildings.The power we collectively use for heating accounts for over 10% of our national CO² emissions.

80°C

70°C

60°C

50°C

40°C

30°C

20°C

MEAN RADIATOR TEMPERATURE

= 600 W @ ΔT50°C

Based on a room temperature of 20°C

70°C

80°C

70°C

60°C

50°C

40°C

30°C

20°CMEAN RADIATORTEMPERATURE

= 600 W @ ΔT25°C

Based on a room temperature of 20°C

45°C

SELECT Compact Type 11

SELECT Compact Type 33

This booklet has been created specifically to help people in the heating industry better understand howmodern panel radiators have evolved and explain howthey work just as efficiently with new, low temperatureheating systems as they do with traditional high temperature systems.

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MYSON is part of a Finnish, family owned company calledRettig ICC (Indoor Climate Comfort). Rettig ICC has factories and sales operations in all major European markets, China and the USA and has annual sales of overEUR500 million.

As part of Europe’s leading radiator, controls and underfloor heating company, MYSON has made a majorcommitment to helping reduce CO2 emissions by continually developing new and innovative products thatare capable of operating more efficiently and more effectively at lower flow temperatures.

To help communicate this highly important commitment,MYSON have introduced our own distinctive Eco logo.This now features on all our products that are compatiblewith renewable energy sources. It is our guarantee to youof economically and ecologically efficient heating performance.

The full range of MYSON panel radiators proudly carriesthis seal of quality, guaranteeing their compatibility with allenergy sources and their ability to generate significant savings on heating costs and reductions in CO2 emissions.

Designing a Modern Heating Solution

Four Stepsto EnergyEfficiency

Step

1

Step

2

Step

3

Step

4

Insulation Check.

Heat Loss Calculation.

Heat Source Choice.

Heat Emitter Selection.

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While developing new technology and launching new products are vital parts of thedrive to save heating energy, at MYSON, webelieve that the best results can only beachieved by following a ‘four step’ approach toheating systems.

STEP 1 Insulation Check

The first step to achieving energy efficiency, especially inolder buildings, is to minimise heat losses. If a building doesnot meet modern insulation standards its heating systemwill never be truly energy efficient. Lower heat losses leadto lower heat demand and lower energy usage.

STEP 2 Heat Loss Calculation

The amount of heat required for a high level of comfort ina building varies from room to room. Individual heat loss calculations need to be made for every room in a building,taking into account factors such as size of walls, number ofdoors, size of windows and whether walls are interior or exterior. One size of heat emitter will not be ideal for allrooms!

MYSON has developed a Heatloss CD, which enables youto make these calculations for your building and to specifythe correct size and number of heat emitters required. Contact Customer Services on 0845 402 3434 to obtainyour copy.

STEP 3 Heat Source Choice

In recent times, gas boilers have overwhelmingly been theUK’s most popular choice for generating heat in buildings.Today, however, the list of options is growing fast with renewable technologies such as heat pumps, becomingmore popular. Whilst upfront capital costs are higher, theselow water temperature options can deliver significant energy savings compared with high water temperature systems.

STEP 4 Heat Emitter Selection

The key point of difference between alternative heat sourcechoices and traditional gas boilers is that the system wateris set at much lower temperatures. The difference can typically be in the range of 20-30°C. This has a significantimpact on the suitability and performance level of the various types of heat emitter available. Making the rightchoice can improve efficiency, save energy and help reduceemissions.

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The primary function of any heating system is to supplyheating energy to a building so that its occupants feel comfortable. Typically, this means heating rooms to andmaintaining them at a temperature of around 20°C.

In the UK, the majority of our heating systems are waterbased, utilise gas boilers as their heat source and use panelradiators as their main type of heat emitter. Traditionally weuse these boilers to heat water to 80°C in order to bringrooms up to a temperature of 20°C.

The introduction of modern insulation materials and standards, however, has resulted in significantly reducedheat losses and, therefore, lower demand for heat in buildings. New heat sources, such as heat pumps, havebeen developed to work with system water set at significantly lower temperatures. It is no longer necessaryto heat water to 80°C in order to achieve a room temperature of 20°C. A high efficiency heat source, withpanel radiators and water at 40°C- 50°C uses less energyand will quickly achieve a room temperature of 20°C.

High Efficiency Heat Sources and Panel Radiators

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Modern panel radiators need only warm water to operate efficiently and so work well with all heat sources. Theystart performing as soon as the water in the system becomes warmer than the surrounding space. Low watertemperature heating systems using modern panel radiators are one of the most efficient ways of using heating energy to deliver warmth.

ElectricGasOilLocal/districtheating

Biomass/wood

Solar energyHeat pump

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Panel radiators have benefitted enormously from continuous innovation in recent years. Modern units aremanufactured using less steel and with a lower water content, utilising convector fins and incorporating individualthermostatic radiator valves to provide much improved energy efficiency, indoor comfort and versatility.

Continued innovation also means that radiators no longerneed to take up large areas of wall space. For example,MYSON have recently launched a T33 panel radiatormodel, which has three panels and three convectors. Thisis ideal for use with low water temperature heating systemsas it has a very large surface area but is still extremely compact in size. It is deeper than a standard single panelradiator but, crucially, occupies only minimal wall space.

Style andInnovation

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09

Innovation in panel radiators - optimising heat output

Modern panel radiators use less water, less energy and react more quickly to thermal heat changes.

1970s

Present

Plane panel structure and high water content

Convector fins introducedbetween water channels

Water content reducedand fins placed in contactwith hotter channels

Channels flattened andcontact surface area maximised

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Size DoesMatter

Radiators for low temperature systems are physically and technically the same as traditional panel radiators. The only key factor which changes is sizing.

The same size of radiator will not produce the same heat output with a low temperature system as it will with a high temperature system. Put simply, a radiatorthat is heated to 45°C will not produce as much warmth as one that is heated to 80°C.

Whilst improvements in insulation have reduced demand for heat in buildings, if youare doing renovation work and fitting a heat pump where previously a gas boiler wasin use, to achieve the same heat output you will generally still need to replace the existing radiators with new ones that have larger surface areas. The key is to ensurethat heat loss calculations are made for each individual room in a building in order toaccurately identify the correct size and number of radiators for each situation.

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Calculating Radiator Outputs

How the Delta T (ΔT) Table Works

Based on room temperature of 20°C and radiator output of 1kW

7045

Flow Temperature (°C)

8050

Mean Radiator Temperature (°C)

ReturnTemperature (°C)

6040

Boiler (ΔT50°C)Difference between mean radiator temperature and room temperature is 70°C - 20°C = 50°C.From conversion factor table, delta T (ΔT) factor for 50°C difference is 1.

If MYSON’S stated output is 1kW then multiplying this by 1 shows actual radiator output in these conditions is 1kW.

Renewable (ΔT25°C)Difference between mean radiator temperature and room temperature is 45°C - 20°C = 25°C.From conversion factor table, delta T (ΔT) factor for 25°C difference is 0.41.

If MYSON’S stated output is 1kW then multiply this by 0.41 to get actual radiator output in these conditions (0.41 x 1 = 0.41kW). You therefore need to use at least two of this size radiator to meet1kW requirement or choose a more powerful radiator with an output of 2.44kW as 0.41 x 2.44 = 1kW.

NB: Please reference MYSON literature for a table of conversion factors.

Boiler (ΔT50°C)

Renewable (ΔT25°C)

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Another significant advantage of panel radiators, especiallythose fitted with individual thermostatic controls, is that theyreact quickly and precisely to changing temperature needs.This means not just that they warm up quickly when heat isneeded but also, equally importantly, that they cool downquickly and efficiently when heat is no longer required.

Whilst a lot of emphasis is placed on heat losses, an energyefficient heating system also has to be able to react rapidlyto incidental heat gains within individual rooms. These heatgains could come, for example, from people entering aroom, from sunlight or from electrical equipment beingswitched on. If the heating system cannot react quickly to these heat gains then rooms can quickly overheat and result in wasted energy.

RapidResponse

Warmth is both one of life’s necessities and one of its pleasures. Our bodies are programmed to seek out sourcesof warmth, such as the heat given off by an open fire. Wedo this even when the room temperature is already warm.The heat given off by a radiator is no different to that givenoff by a fire.

Radiators are a visible source of warmth in a room and thehuman body can feel the heat they give off from a distanceof about one metre. Warming yourself by a radiator is a similarly pleasurable experience to warming yourself by afire or soaking up the summer sun.

Radiators have flexible heat output which means that theyreact quickly to changing temperature needs. They also distribute warmth easily and evenly across a completebuilding or individual rooms. The temperature is the sameat head height as it is for your feet!

Indoor Comfort

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A common misperception is that heat pumps are suitablefor use only with underfloor heating. In fact, they also function perfectly with modern panel radiators. Furthermore, with a low temperature heating system it ispossible to use the same heating water for both radiatorsand underfloor heating.

Panel radiators are ideally suited for use alongside underfloor heating and fan convectors in the same building. Each system complements the strengths of theother regarding convection, circulation, comfort and temperature profile.

Panel radiators are widely recognised as the UK’s most costeffective heating option. They have low capital investmentcosts, are easy to install and will operate practically maintenance free, as they have no moving parts and do notexperience wear, for several decades. As a result, they havevery low life cycle costs.

Compatible with Underfloor Heating

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PREMIER Compact PREMIER HE SELECT Compact SELECT

The range of styles, outputs and sizes now available is also greater than ever. All MYSON panel radiators are manufactured in the UK and come with a 10-year warranty. Our range includes round top and classic seam top units. These are also bothavailable in conventional and compact styles, the latter of which come complete withfactory fitted top grilles and side panels.

The MYSON product range is now also more widely available than ever before throughleading national heating and plumbing merchants. For details, contact our Customer Services direct on 0845 402 3434 or visit www.myson.co.uk.

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MYSON MYSON Eastern Avenue, Team Valley, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 0PGT: 0845 402 3434, F: 0191 491 7568, sales@myson.co.uk, www.myson.co.uk