During the transition from steam to modern heating systems, dehumeter-orifice devices played a crucial role in regulating flow rates and maintaining efficiency within networks. These devices were initially designed for use with steam but later adapted for other fluids like hot water or heat transfer mediums. The drop in pressure is proportional to the square of the flow rate through the orifice, which can be calculated using an altered form of Bernoulli’s equation considering friction losses.
The efficiency loss within these systems primarily occurs during distribution due to energy wasted by draining condensate away from steam networks. However, modern designs have significantly improved overall system efficiencies ranging between 70-90%, compared to the historical 60% achieved in early dehumeter-orifice devices designed around the late 1890s.
As countries like the UK increasingly support and regulate heat network technologies, there is potential for up to 20% of their total heating needs potentially fulfilled by such systems someday.
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