Analysis of the heat pumps applicability in the district heating system

Abstract

The main intention of the work is to check and analyze the applicability of heat pumps in the district heating system, in accordance with the criteria defined by the Integrated national energy and climate plan. It is basically an integrated solution that has various implications for the energy system, which are of a technical, economic and envi-ronmental nature. Modern district heating system can integrate low-emission or climate neutral energy sources and technologies, especially in urban settings where neighborhood solutions can work well. The advantages and disad-vantages of investing in such systems need to be carefully assessed in each case and in relation with other, potentially more cost-effective and sustainable local solutions. Presented strategy highlights the twin benefits, environmental risks mitigation and security of supply improvement, combining energy efficient technology and conservation measures with switching to waste energy use in district heating system. The proposed development strategy of the utility company includes the development of new heat sources, the revitalization of existing systems, and consume expansion. Development of new heat sources involves building of a new heat pump capacity in parallel with the introduction of locally available heat sources and increase the availabil-ity of the heat supply service to a larger number of consumers. Existing district heating system lacks capacity (in near future), and instead of building new boilers, a heat pump can be a suitable alternative. Heat production by the heat pumps can sustainably utilize the heat energy of purified water from the Waste water treatment plant, and thus substi-tutes the combustion of natural gas in the heating plants’ boilers. Aim of proposal idea is utilization of waste low-temperature heat out of wastewater by a heat pump and feed in the district heating network. Wastewater from the city is collected in a sewer system and treated in a wastewater treatment plant in the northern part of the city. An integral part of the concept is the construction of the missing hot water routes and interconnections (4 km of district heating pipeline is required), as well as the modernization of the heating substations. To utilization of waste heat out of wastewater by a heat pump, the 3 separated networks could be connected to gain a continuous and integrated operation. This is necessary to fully utilize the potential of the heat pumps’ production. This paper was prepared in the framework of „The Renewable District Energy in the Western Balkans Pro-gramme (the ReDEWeB Programme)” as support to integrated urban and sustainable energy systems, which is fi-nanced by the Austrian government and supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The concept is the result of good cooperation between programme participants and the Public utility compa-ny “Drugi oktobar”, Vršac.