Heat Geek Learn

Introducing WHY

• Energy sources
• Carbon intensity
• Load shifting
• Solar and batteries

Introducing HOW

• Temperature vs heat
• How heat pumps work
• Components of a heat pump
• How we measure efficiency

Introducing TYPES

• Monobloc vs split
• Air vs radiant delivery
• Air Source Ground Source
• Water Source
• High temperature heat pumps

Essential Positioning

• Manufacturers clearances
• Micro-climating
• Permitted development rules
• MCS
• Noise

Essential Electrics

• DNO and applications
• Looped supplies
• Max demand calculations

Essential Plumbing and Controls

• Building regulations
• Plastic pipework
• Plumbing
• External pipework and protection
• Filters and strainers
• Antifreeze valves vs glycol
• Hot water cylinders
• Controls

Intro to Low Flow Temperature
For all water based heating systems, the number one thing, and the aim of this course, is to minimise the flow temperature. This isn’t just a case of bigger radiators. This section covers all of the other things required to achieve the lowest possible flow temperatures and the additional benefits this has.

Emitters and Insulation
Emitters and insulation is a two way street. There exists a relationship between the two. This section doesn’t go into the depths of complex heat loss calculations, but rather shows you how to carry out quick approximation methods to estimate property heat losses and radiator sizing for heat pump systems.

Conversion Factors
Conversion Factors are used to specify radiators from manufacturer’s catalogues when designing for differing radiator temperatures. Here we show you how to use these and how to select the right radiator sizes for low flow temperature systems.

Insulation
There’s a hidden benefit of insulation that’s seldom talked about, yet gives us huge gains. We’ll show you by example how insulation improves the efficiency and running costs of a system by a lot more than you might think!

Insulation Types
Covers the conventional types of insulation and other simple ways to prevent heat losses from a property.

Heat Pump Sizing
Heat pump sizing can sometimes be a bit of a minefield and getting this right is crucial for the performance and efficiency of a system. Manufacturer’s rated capacities are not all they seem and can sometimes be misleading. Here we show you how to understand heat pump capacity data and how to use it to correctly specify a heat pump. We go into detail about heating demand vs heat pump capacity, bivalent points and supplementary heating.

Watt is energy?
What are Joules? What exactly are Kilowatts? How do they apply to thermal energy and what is Delta T? This section highlights the difference between power and energy and frames how we are going to measure the energy we are trying to create, store and distribute, as well as describe some of the terms and measurements used within the industry and this course. An essential starting point.

Heat loss R-values, K-values, U-values
What these are and how we use these to calculate the thermal energy required for a building. An essential part of the two-part method of creating a low temperature system. How much ventilation is required for each room and what this means for heat loss. What happens to heat loss throughout the year. Basic rules of thumb for quotations and calculations on the fly.

Mass flow rate
This introduces and explores the holy grail of heating, mass flow rate which is the relationship between flow and energy including: Specific heat capacity of water Magic Mo’s triangle

Velocity pipe sizing
What the difference between flow rate and velocity is and how we measure and calculate velocity. The velocity triangle Pipe sizing Velocity, what it is, what it means and how to calculate it Magic triangle

Pipe sizing, Pressure loss, and pump sizing
Pipe sizing, a brief overview of pressure losses, and how to calculate pump head requirements, system resistances, residual head graphs. Pressure loss Turbulent and laminar flow System resistance Index circuit Pump curves Residual head System curves Round up

Emitter sizing
How to size your emitters (radiators) and the relevance to over or under-sizing. The relevance of power and temperature. MW-AT-DT – what is it and where do I use it? Quick hand adjusters

Controls
What are we controlling and what are the variables that mean we need controls? What’s wrong with older methods of ‘on/off’ controls?

Emitters Mastery
Techniques for emitter upsizing and working off a reference room, for different emitters including rads, underfloor heating and fan convectors, also the benefits of each type for heat pumps and any other heat source or property. A deep dive into underfloor heating, including how to size it, benefits of different pipe layouts, the different 5 variables that allow different flow temperatures, various conversion factors for insulation upgrades and floor outputs.

Controls Mastery
A high level module on controls for all heat sources but with a focus on heat pumps including underfloor heating valves and controls, variable temperature mixer valves and controls- when they’re needed, how they work and how they’re controlled. Hysteresis and dynamic cycling, how these can be fine-tuned to maximise efficiency and comfort on any system. Closed-loop vs open-loop control, when to close the loop and how best to close the loop. Why zoning is not a good idea in many cases, when and where to zone. Calculating different heat pump COPs with different control strategies.

Hydraulic Separation
What hydraulic separation is, when and where to use it, the 4 forms of hydraulic separation, how to size orientate and install low loss headers, how to size orientate and install close-coupled tees, distortion – what it is, how to calculate it and minimise it, plate heat exchangers – the different types, how to size them with both log mean temperature and arithmetic mean temperature, where, when and how to install them. Round up of when and where to use different types.

Buffers
A two part module describing what a buffer is, when and where to use them with rule of thumb, the 3 variables used when sizing them if not using rule of thumb with worked examples.

Buffer Mastery
Different pipework orientations and benefits to each one in each flow situation and each differential temperature situation helping with design, fault finding, commissioning of systems and tweaking for efficiency upgrades.

Efficient Hot Water Production
How to size in relation to power and demand rather than volume, how to maximise efficiency during hot water production, the effects of running different heat exchangers at different flow rates and temperatures, what the heat source saturation point is and how we can use this for sizing.