Conversion of electric heating in buildings: An unconventional alternative

To decrease the electric energy used for heating buildings it has become desirable to convert direct electrical heating to other heat sources. This paper reports on a study of the possibility of using an unconventional method for conversion to avoid installing an expensive hydronic system. The conversion method combines the ventilation and heating systems and uses air instead of water for distribution of heat within the building, taking advantage of thermal forces and the special properties of gravity currents. Full-scale tests have been carried out in a test apartment inside a laboratory hall where the conditions could be controlled. Temperatures and efficiency of ventilation have been measured to ensure that the demands with respect to thermal climate and air exchange were fulfilled. The results show that it is possible to use the method for heating and ventilation when converting the heating system, but further work has to be done to develop a detailed solution that works in practice.