ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD MEASUREMENT AND RISK
ASSESSMENT OF HEAT COST ALLOCATION MEASURING
SYSTEMS
1
SEMIH OZDEN, 2MEHMET Z. TUYSUZ, 3BAHRIYE S. ARAL, 4AYSE G.C. KURSUN,
5
NESRIN SEYHAN
1
Gazi University, Technical Sciences Vocational College, Dept. of Electronics and Automation, TURKEY
2
Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Biophysics
3
Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center
1
4
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract: There is widespread application of the central heating system in apartment buildings. It helps to improve energy
efficiency and to promote energy savings. The metering of the energy consumption commercially has been applied in two
ways as hot water measurement or thermal energy measurement. The measurement with remote reading systems provides
great advantages in terms of time and accuracy with Radio Frequency (RF) technology. RF communication technologies
have applications in many areas to make our lives easier. On the contrary, RF devices such as cell phones, Wi-Fi, cordless
phones increases exposure of electromagnetic fields. In this study, radiation level and risk assessment of the heat cost
allocation measurement devices (HCAMD) were measured and discussed. According to the results of the totally 26 points
electric field measurement, the value of the electromagnetic fields that can cause adverse health and biological effects have
not been recorded.
Keywords: Radio frequency, electromagnetic field, RF radiation, risk assessment, heat allocation measurement.
to reduce energy consumption [4]. Installation of
allocators increases the motivation of inhabitants to
regulate indoor temperatures and thereby reduce heat
consumption [6]. It is obvious that the cost allocation
system increase efficiency and decrease waste energy
usage. Data collection from occupants is current issue
and develops many type of devices. The easiest way
is to collect data via wireless technologies.
The wireless technologies applied all area of our life
last decades. It has several advantages to collect data
remotely and gain mobility of the devices. In this
topic, it helps reading consumption data without cable
connection reduces time and mounting issues. Owing
to technological advances, wireless communication
systems have started to become a significant part in
people’s daily lives. Most of these systems transmit
electromagnetic radiation in the radiofrequency (RF)
region (10 kHz–300 GHz) [7]. In the last 30 years,
extensive research has been conducted into possible
hazardous effects of exposure to radio frequency
radiation on human health. All reviews conducted so
far have indicated that exposures below the limits
recommended in the International Commission on
Non-Ionizing
Radiation
Protection
[8].
Electromagnetic Field Guidelines, covering the full
frequency range from 0 to 300 GHz, do not produce
any known adverse health effect due to thermal
change.
Since 1990, the effects of extremely low frequency
(ELF) magnetic and electric fields on the biological
organisms have been investigated at the Biophysics
Department of Gazi and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation
Protection (GNRP) Center was founded in 2005. In
these laboratories, application of RF fields, ELF
magnetic and electric fields to biological systems,
I. INTRODUCTION
The individual accounting of thermal energy in
residential buildings (heating, cooling, hot water) is
considered a very essential tool for increasing energy
efficiency. In fact, the availability of real time energy
consumptions data, typical of smart metering, enables
end-users to identify the causes of energy waste and
to adopt adequate strategies to improve their energy
efficiency [1]. The recent Energy Efficiency
Directive considers heat metering and accounting as
an effective tool to improve energy efficiency and to
promote energy savings. From this perspective it
requires individual metering or sub-metering systems
to be mandatorily installed by December 31, 2016 in
multi-apartments and multi-purpose buildings with a
central heating/cooling source or supplied from a
district heating network [2]. For the energy efficient
heating system, as the local regulation, the use of
thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), which control
the indoor air temperature by changing the flow of
heating medium to the radiator, is recommended (in
some countries – obligatory) [3].
Andersen et al. investigated impact of the using of the
heat cost allocation in two apartment buildings on the
indoor environment. Whereas the average
temperature measured in apartments with collective
heat cost allocation was 2.8 C higher compared to
apartments with individual heat cost allocation [4].
The studies in the literature showed how significant
energy savings can be achieved through changes and
optimization of the occupant behavior. However,
occupants will not change behavior if they are not
motivated [5] and actions to motivate occupants and
provide them with assessment tools seem necessary
Proceedings of ISER 47th International Conference, Madrid, Spain, 28th -29th December 2016, ISBN: 978-93-86291-73-8
15
Electromagnetic Field Measurement and Risk Assessment of Heat Cost Allocation Measuring Systems
dosimetry of ELF and RF fields and modeling,
biological and health effects of ELF & RF radiation,
methods of measurement of EMF are being
investigated [9-15]. Based on our findings, it is
strongly recommended that periodic EMF exposure
measurements should be done to obtain
understanding of workplace and living exposures and
their sources. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate
risk assessment of the wireless heat cost allocation
systems.
1.
2.
II. THE HEAT COST ALLOCATION
MEASUREMENT DEVICE (HCAMD)
In the Fig. 1, Alarko-Techem (Istanbul, Turkey)
brand heat consumption measurement device is
given. It has a LCD display to show current
consumption in the front side. Other side, the RF
antenna is located and other mounting parts for
heater. The devices are mounted on the heat radiator
send data every four minutes and it takes 0,7 second.
It uses free band 868 MHz communication frequency.
The first group measurements were
performed for device(s) without any gap
between device and measurement probe. The
background EMF level was measured in the
laboratory before starting assessment. It was
kept minimum.
a. Only one device
b. Four devices
c. Ten devices
These measurements were performed in a
real apartment per room. The background
EMF level was measured before starting
assessment.
a. Nine devices were located rooms in
the apartment.
b. Nine devices were located rooms.
Additionally, upper and lower
floors nine devices were located for
per floor.
The measurements for the 1(a) was given in Fig. 1.
For 1(b) four devices were located as given Fig. 2.
The measurement probe was kept center of the
HCAMD.
Fig.1. The Heat Cost Allocation Measurement
Device (HCAMD)
III. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
MEASUREMENTS
The measurements were conducted with Narda
(Pfulingen, Germany) EMR-300 and 100 kHz - 3
GHz electric field probe in three steps. The
measurements were conducted frequency selective
device.
Fig.2. The EMF measurement of four pieces of
HCAMD
Fig.3. The EMF measurement of ten pieces of HCAMD
Proceedings of ISER 47th International Conference, Madrid, Spain, 28th -29th December 2016, ISBN: 978-93-86291-73-8
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Electromagnetic Field Measurement and Risk Assessment of Heat Cost Allocation Measuring Systems
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The measurements were conducted with calibrated
Narda EMR-300 and 100 kHz - 3 GHz electric field
probe. The EMF meter shows result as maximum,
average and maximum average. The average values
were evaluated for 6 minutes. These values recorded
by EMF meter with PC application. Results were
given in Table 1. The background EMF levels
presents in the “Without Device” column. Last group
column as “Difference %” presents EMF level
variation between background and EMF level with
device as percentage.
Results show that devices increase EMF level in the
environment. The big differences were measured in
the Step 1. It is clear that the EMF level were
increased by increasing number of devices. In the
Step 1c, ten pieces were located adjacently and 243%
difference were occurred. In the apartment (Step 2)
the differences were measured less than Step 1. The
biggest variation was observed in the Step 2b, Room
3 as 25%.
Fig.4. The plan of the apartment conducted
measurement
Measurement
Without Device
With Device
Difference (%)
Step
Point
Max
Av.
Max.
Max
Av.
Av.
Max.
Av.
Av.
Max.
Av.
1a
Device
0,44
0,20
0,22
1,24
0,21
0,24 181,82 5,00
9,09
1b
Device
0,44
0,20
0,22
1,48
0,30
0,31 236,36 50,00 40,91
1c
Device
0,44
0,20
0,22
1,51
0,32
0,34 243,18 60,00 54,55
Room 1
0,35
0,21
0,24
0,36
0,22
0,25
2,86
4,76
4,17
Room 2
0,37
0,23
0,23
0,41
0,25
0,25
10,81
8,70
8,70
Room 3
0,36
0,26
0,27
0,38
0,28
0,28
5,56
7,69
3,70
Room 4
0,41
0,31
0,33
0,44
0,33
0,34
7,32
6,45
3,03
Room 5
0,41
0,25
0,25
0,42
0,27
0,27
2,44
8,00
8,00
Room 1
0,35
0,21
0,24
0,37
0,24
0,28
5,71
14,29 16,67
Room 2
0,37
0,23
0,23
0,46
0,29
0,31
24,32 26,09 34,78
Room 3
0,36
0,26
0,27
0,45
0,31
0,31
25,00 19,23 14,81
Room 4
0,41
0,31
0,33
0,47
0,38
0,38
14,63 22,58 15,15
Room 5
0,41
0,25
0,25
0,46
0,28
0,28
12,20 12,00 12,00
2a
2b
Max
Proceedings of ISER 47th International Conference, Madrid, Spain, 28th -29th December 2016, ISBN: 978-93-86291-73-8
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Electromagnetic Field Measurement and Risk Assessment of Heat Cost Allocation Measuring Systems
5.
To sum up, it is obvious that the device increases
EMF value of the environment. The EMF level cause
adverse health and biological effects have not been
recorded.Although some epidemiologic studies were
performed several decades ago on ELF-MFs
electromagnetic fields in residential places, the
biological and health effects of ELF-MFs in humans
and exposed field levels are still an emerging area of
investigation. To minimize the risk of adverse health
effects, ELF-MFs must be in compliance with the
international recommendations. GNRP and Gazi
Biophysics recommends that occupational exposure
standards considering the precautionary principle
relating to adverse health effects should promptly be
legislated in Turkey and throughout the world.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Electromagnetic Field measurement devices used in
this study were supplied by a grant from Gazi
University Research Foundation, No: 31 / 2002-07.
11.
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Proceedings of ISER 47th International Conference, Madrid, Spain, 28th -29th December 2016, ISBN: 978-93-86291-73-8
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