Using the Low-grade Heat of Watercourses for Heat Pump Based Heat Supply Systems under the Conditions of Central Russia

Abstract

The selection of a low-grade heat source for setting up a heat pump based heat supply system is considered, and the prospects of using the heat of open watercourses for this purpose are shown. The design of a floating heat exchanger for a watercourse is described, which was used to construct a heat pump system for heating a country house in the Moscow region. The results of studying the heat exchanger performance efficiency are presented. To analyze the prospects for a widespread introduction of such systems under the conditions of central Russia, water temperature measurements were carried out in a number of Moscow region rivers in winter. A mobile installation for carrying out experimental field studies of the heat extraction process from watercourses has been constructed. The results of the water to heat carrier heat transfer coefficient measurements under the heat transfer surface icing conditions are given. The study results have confirmed good prospects of using heat pump systems for the year-round heat supply purposes.