1. Short scan of natural gas technologies
in new buildings in France

2. 3 major trends
 More energy efficient natural gas technologies
Source Vergne Innovation
Source Sanyo
 Hybrid technologies: different energy sources to
cover several energy needs
 Decentralized power generation
technology
Page 2
Source De Dietrich = maybe good for US homes

3. More energy efficient natural gas technologies
Natural gas engine heat pumps
Outdoor
Indoor
20-80 kWheat and 20-70kWcold
Rated COP up to 1.44 HHV and EER= 4.3 HHV (A/A version)
Hot water production up to 130 F Source: GrDF and Xpair
Source Sanyo – Gas driven VRF
Engine maintenance every 10,000 hours
Aisin-Toyota, Sanyo, Panasonic products, … A/A and A/W
Multi-family and commercial buildings Barriers/future developments:
High space heating and air conditioning needs • unknown because not a tried and
Page 3+ low domestic hot water needs tested technology

4. More energy efficient natural gas technologies
Natural gas absorption heat pumps
Aerothermal Geothermal
Outdoor version A/W version W/W
Indoor
Rated COP: 1.49 HHV 1.53 HHV
EER = 2.15
42 kWheat and 17kWcold
Hot water production temperature up to 150 F Multi-family and commercial buildings
Simple maintenance (very few mobile parts)
High space heating and domestic hot
Barriers/future developments: water needs + low air conditioning needs
• scale it down it for single-family homes
• in Europe, only one manufacturer to-date
Page 4 (Robur - Italy)

5. More energy efficient natural gas technologies
High modulation boiler
 Condensing boiler with high turn-down ratio
 Thermal power can go from 0.9-1 to 9-10 kWheat (Bosch) or from 0.8 to 12 kWth
(Vergne Innovation)  only 2 products
 Reduced start/stop cycles
 a solution for single new residential buildings with low space heating needs
 Low thermal power  no instantaneous hot water production  produce
hot water with water storage tank
 could be interesting to combine it with a solar water heater
Barriers/future developments:
• in development and to be tested
• not on the market yet: 2013?
 a technology to keep in mind for energy efficient buildings
Page 5

6. Hybrid technologies
Electric heat pump added to a condensing boiler
• Heat pump A/W: P<3kWth  will cover base load space heating needs and air
conditioning needs.
• Condensing boiler: 24/30 kWth to cover winter space heating peaks and hot
water production. Works like a back up energy and technology.
Choose which system works through control device
according to the yield or energy price at any time
Mono box
Single houses or individual space heating
system in multi-family buildings
Barriers/future developments:
• warning: the higher the electric heat pump COP the 2 units
less natural gas consumed by the system
• control system to switch between the boiler and the
HP according to energy prices or yield
Page 6

7. Hybrid technologies
Solar water heater and natural gas condensing boiler
 To produce hot water with solar energy. Natural gas used for space heating
and as a back up energy for hot water production when there’s no sun!
Hot water
50% hot water needs covered on
average by solar energy per year Solar panel
Back up energy
Warm up the water during winter and
can cover all hot water needs in summer Control
device
Single houses or multi-family buildings Pump
Cold water
Barriers/future developments: 22 sq ft to 43 sq ft of solar panel area (1-2 panels)
• size the panel area to cover only 80-85% Hot water storage tank or instantaneous production
of the hot water needs of the hottest
month to avoid superheating problems. To avoid refrigerant freeze during Winter: 2 solutions:
• reduce costs glycol refrigerant or a self drained design
Page 7

8. Electricity generation from NG
Natural gas micro-CHP
 Condensing boiler for hot water and space heating needs + Stirling engine to
produce electricity
 Condensing boiler
 81% HHV rated yield
 2 burners
• primary one = 6-8 kWheat
• secondary one = 24 kWheat
 Stirling engine
 Electric power = 1 kW
Source De Dietrich Source BAXI
 yield ≈ 15%
Barriers/future developments:
• connect several systems in series (problems Single houses or individual space
with the control device) heating in multi-family buildings
• reduce costs drastically!
• French market in 2013
Page 8

9. ANNEX
Page 9

10. Sources of data
Technologies scan:
http://www.grdf.fr/professionnels-du-batiment-et-de-lamenagement/salon-interclima-2012/les-produits-
exposes/espace-tertiaire-industrie/pac-a-absorption/
http://www.grdf.fr/professionnels-du-batiment-et-de-lamenagement/salon-interclima-2012/les-produits-
exposes/espace-tertiaire-industrie/pac-moteur-gaz/
http://www.grdf.fr/professionnels-du-batiment-et-de-lamenagement/salon-interclima-2012/les-produits-
exposes/espace-residentiel/chaudiere-hybride/
http://www.grdf.fr/professionnels-du-batiment-et-de-lamenagement/salon-interclima-2012/les-produits-
exposes/espace-residentiel/chauffe-eau-solaire-individuel-optimise/
http://www.grdf.fr/fr/professionnels-du-batiment-et-de-lamenagement/salon-interclima-2012/les-produits-
exposes/espace-residentiel/chaudiere-petite-puissance/
http://www.grdf.fr/professionnels-du-batiment-et-de-lamenagement/salon-interclima-2012/les-produits-
exposes/espace-residentiel/ecogenerateur/
And all the PDF attached to these website directions
Page 10

11. Source vs site energy
Primary energy
Production
losses
Transformation
losses Transport
losses
Site energy
Electricity: Other energies (natural gas, wood,…):
1 kWh of site energy = 2.58 kWh of primary energy 1 kWh of site energy = 1 kWh of primary energy
Page 11
Source = www.development-durable.gouv.fr

12. Natural gas engine heat pump – A/A version
Source SANYO – Gas Driven VRF
http://eu.sanyo.com/AssetBrowser/Air%20Conditioning%20Docs/Brochures/Gas%20Driven%20VRF%20%28GHP%29%202009.pdf
Page 12