METHODICAL APPROACH TO ESTIMATING THE POTENTIAL OF THERMAL ENERGY PRODUCTION BY HEAT PUMP PLANTS IN CASE OF THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IN REGIONAL DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEMS

Abstract

The results of the estimation of the annual potential for thermal energy production using heat pumps (HPs) in district heating systems (DHS) for the regions of Ukraine and the country as a whole are given. This study is relevant due to the high level of DHS development in Ukraine, which reaches 52 %. Today, the outdated equipment of DHSs in Ukraine needs significant technological modernization. Also, in the near future, it will be necessary to restore DHSs destroyed as a result of the total destruction of the civil infrastructure by the russian aggressor. The post-war reconstruction of Ukrainian cities has a unique chance to radically update DHSs using renewable energy sources and innovative technologies, including HPs. The authors propose a new methodical approach for the regional determination of the forecast implementation scope of HPs in DHSs. Using this approach, the economically available energy potential of thermal energy production by HPs in DHSs from various low-potential heat sources (LPHS) was determined, both for the regions of Ukraine and for the country as a whole. As of 2020, this energy potential for DHSs of Ukraine is 62.601 million Gcal/year (262.1 PJ/year): 22.2 % is provided by natural LPHS (heat of air (2.2 %), river water (16.9 %), ground and groundwater (3.1 %)) and 77.8 % is provided by anthropogenic LPHS (heat of ventilation emissions of buildings connected to the DHS (43.0%), sewage water (9.7 %), flue gases from boilers and combined heat power plants (14.3 %), cooling water of technological processes (10.8 %)). The calculated energy potentials for the thermal energy production by HPs from various LPHSs for DHSs of 24 regions of Ukraine are presented also. Information from scientific publications, regulatory documents, annual reports of the State Statistical Service of Ukraine and other government agencies used as the initial data for calculations. Approved methods of heat engineering calculations, methods of statistical and calculation-comparative analysis using Microsoft Excel computer software used to calculate and visualize the results. Methodical recommendations for determining the priority and locations for the implementation of HPs in regional DHSs of Ukraine, which developed by the authors of the article, are presented. Bibl. 48, Fig. 2, Tab. 4.