Heat Supplying Research Articles

Methodical approach to assessing effectiveness of innovation implementation in unified heat supply organizations

The domestic sphere of heat supply, which is currently in decline due to the critical technical condition of Russia’s heat sector, requires measures to modernize it. It is necessary to strive for innovative development of the sector. The introduction of innovations can significantly accelerate the modernization processes, as well as ensure the fulfillment of environmental safety property of heat supply, that is, the ability to influence the reduction of environmental damage to the environment during the operation of heat supply facilities. The main entity implementing modernization processes and innovative solutions in heat supply systems is a unified heat supplying organization, which is legally assigned the function of strategic development of the heat supply system in its subordinate territory. The issues of modernization and innovative development of heat supply systems involve the need for significant investments in these processes. In this regard, the author’s approach to assessing the effectiveness of introducing innovations into a single heat supply organization and the heat supply system assigned to it has been formed using criteria that allow jointly assessing both economic efficiency and environmental and social effects of decisions taken and innovations implemented.

Аналіз тенденцій розвитку централізованого теплопостачання в Україні

The article is aimed at defining the main tendencies in the development of centralized heat supply in Ukraine. Objective prerequisites for the use of centralized heating sources, as well as levels of development of heat supply systems of settlements are identified. It is determined that the development of heat supply systems largely depends on climatic conditions and the climatic characteristics of certain cities of Ukraine are considered. The main stages of construction of district heating systems in localities of Ukraine are formed. Types of heat supply of cities of Ukraine are identified. The genesis of development of heat generation and heat supply processes in Ukraine is researched. The peculiarities of formation of the national legislative framework for regulation of issues on production and consumption of heat energy are analyzed. The provisions of the Concept for the implementation of the State policy in the sphere of heat supply are analyzed. Based on the carried out analysis, it is determined the following: firstly, the imbalance of financial capabilities and needs for financing investment projects of heat supplying enterprises, as well as a shortage of investment resources, which requires careful substantiation of investment programs, directions and order of modernization and reconstruction of available capacities; secondly, shifting the focus to the powers of local authorities (through decentralization of public administration), which received broad powers to license and set tariffs for heat energy, but at the same time received a wider range of obligations to maintain heat supply systems in working condition; thirdly, the lack of medium- and long-term planning for the development of heat supply systems in localities, which largely explains the current state of the heat supply sector. It is substantiated that such features of the current state of heat supply in Ukraine require the development of new approaches to planning and implementation of works on organizational-technological modernization of heat supply in conditions of limited financial resources.

Напрямки активізації інвестиційної діяльності теплопостачальних підприємств

The article is aimed at developing proposals for the activation of the processes of modernization of fixed assets of municipal heat and power economy. The existing state of investment activity in the field of heat supply is analyzed, «bottlenecks» are identified and proposals for the revival of the processes of modernization of heat supply systems are developed. All enterprises of municipal heat and power economy are characterized by a large level of wear of fixed assets. Low efficiency coefficient of heat-generating equipment and high heat loss during transportation (due to the degeneration of pipelines) is one of the reasons for high tariffs for heat energy with low quality and reliability of heat supply. The only way out of the current situation is the activation of investment activities of communal heat and power enterprises, mass reconstruction and modernization of equipment involved in the production, transportation and supply of heat energy. Analyses of annual reports of heat supply enterprises for 2014-2020 allowed to identify the following shortcomings in the management of investment activities: shortage of investment resources in communal heat and power enterprises; orientation in the implementation of investment activities only towards the use of deductions for depreciation; imperfection of tariff, budget and tax policy in the course of the State support of investment processes. As measures to intensify the investment activity of communal heat and power enterprises, it is proposed the following: revaluation of the cost of fixed assets of municipal heat and power enterprises; establishing the procedure according to which all accrued depreciation is included in the sources of financing of the investment program; granting tax benefits to communal utility enterprises on income tax and land fees (the provision of such tax benefits will not affect the financial condition of the community: reducing income corresponds with a decrease in the cost of providing financial assistance to a communal utility heat supply enterprise); improvement of normative legal acts regulating the issues of substantiation of tariffs for heat energy and investment programs of heat supplying enterprises, as well as control over the implementation.

Особливості оцінки ефективності комплексів електричних теплогенераторів та умови їх впровадження

The performed studies at the Institute of General Energy of the NAS of Ukraine have revealed the undeniable advantages of electric heat generators (EHG), namely: simplicity of technical decisions (EHG are put on the places of old boilers in existing boiler rooms); ready infrastructure for the transportation and supply of thermal energy; great opportunities for thermal energy storage without additional capital investments; high speed (it is limited only by the requirements to operation of the thermal equipment of district heating system; wide range of the regulation of electric and thermal power; guaranteeing the stability of the united energy system of Ukraine, and low specific capital costs (their average values for Ukraine's energy systems do not exceed € 45–50 / kW of manoeuvring power). It is established that, for the regulation of electric load during the night depression of graphs of electric loads, it is advisable to use mainly electric boilers as electric heat generators, and the contribution of heat pumps should not exceed 15% of the total thermal power of the complexes. When using EHG for daily current load regulation, it is advisable to use heat pumps in the vast majority of cases, and the contribution of electric boilers should not exceed 43% of the total thermal capacity of the complexes. With these ratios of the capacities of electric boilers and heat pumps, the weighted average cost of the thermal energy produced by them will be much lower than the similar over Ukraine as of 2018 (1265.8 UAH / Gcal). The financial possibilities of heat supply companies for the introduction of electric heat generators are analyzed. It is shown that they are currently unable to finance such projects due to the lack of funds. Finally, we develop recommendations on the introduction of EHG at DHS: the increase in the rate of profit of heat supplying enterprises to a level of 10%, the creation of appropriate State Trust Program, the development of regulatory legal framework for their use, and the appropriate technical and software – information tools.

Performance Improvement of Heat Supply Systems Through the Implementation of Wind Power Plants

The current growth of energy consumption, which is directly related to the use of a large number of fossil fuels, and, as a result, causes environmental pollution, requires the search for ways to conserve energy and use traditional energy resources economically, as well as to preserve environmental well-being. In such a situation, a good solution to this problem can be the use of energy production technologies based on the use of non-traditional and renewable energy sources, and, in particular, the use of wind energy. In heat supply systems, wind energy can be involved in heat production technologies and then used for heating cities and towns. The method of heat supply of buildings through the use of a combined system of energy sources, consisting of a boiler house and wind power plants, is considered. The methodical basis of a very specific heat supplying system has been developed. The specificity of this system is that the boiler comes into operation, complementing the wind turbine operation, only if the wind is weak or absent at all. In other cases, the heat supply is provided by wind turbines, and the boiler house is waiting for the heating load. An assessment of the possible use of wind power facilities together with a boiler house in providing a heating load schedule for consumers located in an area with an increased potential of the wind which average annual speed is at the level of ~7 m/s is presented. The duration of the heating season in this area is 9–10 months a year. It is shown that the joint use of the boiler house and wind power plants for heat supply purposes during the year can reduce the share of the boiler house in the heat supply of consumers by 50–70 % or more.

Adoption of energy conservation measures in a heating system: a case study of the Baikal natural territory

The paper covers the main challenges of heating systems of the Baikal natural territory and considers the most effective measures for energy conservation in settlements and tourist zones of the territory in accordance with the adopted laws of the Russian Federation on energy conservation, heat supply, and protection of Lake Baikal. For the most effective implementation of these measures, it is proposed that they be ranked as per the priority map put forward in this study.The case study illustrates the adoption of energy conservation measures and their environmental and economic effect for heat supplying companies and heat consumers in the village of Listvyanka located in the coastal area of Lake Baikal.

Modeling of Environmental-Energy Efficiency of the Biogas Installation with Heat Supplying of the Biomass Fermentation Process

Abstract The determinants of profitability and environmental friendliness of bioconversion are noted in the paper. As one of the major factors the reduction of thermal energy costs for the fermentation of organic wastes in their utilization is proposed to take into consideration. The expediency of using renewable energy sources for thermal stabilization of the fermentation process, especially in the thermophilic mode of organic fermentation, is emphasized. The energy efficiency biogas installation with structural and technological scheme is given as an example. It receives thermal energy to increase its efficiency from a solar collector and a heat pump. It is proposed to evaluate the energy efficiency of a biogas plant taking into account the cost of bioconversion products and the costs of providing this process. A mathematical model was proposed to substantiate the environmental-economic efficiency of a biogas installation with the minimum energy costs for the thermal stabilization of the biomass fermentation process. The model is based on fuzzy set theory which uses linguistic variables. Linguistic variables take into account the influence of quantitative and qualitative factors on the objective function.

Application research of low concentration methane oxidation heat supply for underground refrigeration

In order to solve the problem of low concentration coal mine methane (CMM) emission and low utilization rate in coal mine and the underground refrigeration demand of coal mine, this paper puts forward a technology of regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) to provide waste heat vapor for lithium bromide refrigeration unit, which can effectively solve the problem of low concentration CMM utilization and provide stable heat source output for the refrigeration unit. The integrated process of oxidizing heat supplying to refrigerating unit includes low concentration CMM transportation security system, CMM RTO system and waste heat utilization system. The designed methane concentration is 1.2%, with flow rate 100, 000 Nm3/h, and steam heat of 7537kW. The expected effect of project operation is analyzed, and the economy of the project is demonstrated. The technology of CMM RTO supplying steam for underground refrigeration, through the destruction of methane, and the output of heat for underground refrigeration, has multiple meanings of energy saving and emission reduction, improving the utilization efficiency of coal bed gas in coal mine area, and promoting the safe production of coal mine.

A new approach to the mathematical model of thermal energy balance

Formation of balance of thermal energy and the heat carrier for a thermal network is carried out for the purpose of increase of efficiency of work of the heat supplying organization. The standard approach proposes to write off the difference between the released and realized heat energy for heat losses. The article proposes a new approach to the formation of the balance of thermal energy and coolant. It includes statistical analysis of telemetry data relating to the released thermal energy. Heat consumption was estimated by contractual load for heating, ventilation and hot water supply. In the mathematical model of the thermal balance for each term weight coefficients were introduced. To obtain the numerical values of these coefficients, the method of least squares was used. The results of checking the adequacy of mathematical models that take into account or neglect thermal losses are presented. The obtained coefficients for the mathematical model of heat balance were used for the mathematical model of mass balance. The results can be used to predict the cost of production and transmission of heat energy and coolant, to assess the efficiency of the heat network and the formation of tariff applications for the future.

Modernization for cogeneration and district heating systems in urban areas: objectives and practice

The factors determining the need for modernization of urban district heating systems with combined heat and power are considered. It is noted that these factors include a significant reduction in thermal loads, new technical and technological opportunities for improving district heating systems, the change in legislation in the field of energy and heat supplying. It is shown that the main disadvantage of the current state of Russian cogeneration systems is a decrease in the combined production of heat and power, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of fuel use, due to unreasonably extensive use of autonomous heat supply sources in many regions. Besides, combined heat and power plants (CHPP) experience a lack of a level playing field in competition with other power plants in the electricity market, with a technically and economically unjustified ban imposed on open heat supply systems. For effective use of the benefits of cogeneration and district heating, the following top priority measures are recommended. It is required to legislate the economic benefits for the combined production of electricity and heat. It is necessary to adjust the model of the wholesale electric energy and power market to eliminate discrimination of CHPP in this market. The construction of autonomous heat sources in urban areas with CHPPs is to be prohibited unless substantiated with an adequate feasibility study. Decommissioning of CHPPs and heat sources, which are used to back up CHPPs, must only be permitted subject to a mandatory feasibility study, including assessment of effects on reliability of heat supply of urban consumers. The Russian Federal Law “On heat supply” is to be adjusted to lift the total ban on the use of open heat supply systems. It is required to create a national body with sufficient authority to control and coordinate the activities of energy companies to modernize cogeneration and district heating systems.

Thermo Dynamics and Economics Evaluations: Substitution of the Extraction Steam with the Wasted Heat of Flue Gas

A new heat supplying system is proposed that utilizes the exhausted gas of the boiler to substitute the extraction steam from the turbine as the driving force for the adsorption heat pump regarding the recovery of the condensation heat of power plant. However, our system is not subject to the low efficiency of wasted heat utilization due to the low temperature of flue gas, which hence possesses higher performance in COP factors in the utilization of heat than that of the conventional techniques of using flues gas, so the amount of extracted gas from turbine can be reduced and the power generate rate be enhanced. Subsequently, detailed evaluation of the performance of this system in the point of views of thermodynamics and economics are presented in this work. For the instance of a 330 MW heat supply unit, 5 sample cities are chosen to demonstrate and confirm our economic analysis. It is revealed that when the heating coefficient of the heat pump is 1.8, the investment payback periods for these 5 cities are within the range of 2.4 to 4.8 years, which are far below the service year of the heat pump, demonstrating remarkable economic benefits for our system.

RELIABILITY OF THERMAL NETWORKS: THEORY AND PRACTICE

According to research, the total number of accidents on thermal networks which is related to exceeding the normative operation period has increased in the last two years. Obsolete networks lead to signifi cant heat losses. Energy effi ciency of heat supply can be increased with improvement of the reliability of thermal networks. When the federal law No. FZ-190 «On heat supply» was introduced, diagrams of heat supply of settlements began to be developed again. Calculation of heat supply reliability became an obligatory requirement. Methods of calculation of thermal networks reliability are provided in most detail in [1, 2]. The [2] technique suggests calculating reliability in the ZuluThermo software complex. The main basic parameter for calculation is the average failure rate. This value is theoretically the result of statistical investigations, and on practice uses the average value. Absence or lack of statistical information leads to a change in the actual reliability index, bringing it closer to the target value. A technique for collection and processing of failure statistics is suggested in [1]. However, for a number of reasons, there are certain diffi culties of receiving reliable basic data. Besides, as practice shows, data processing and assessment of the results also causes diffi culties. The results of the critical analysis of the listed techniques has shown that in order to receive calculations which are true it is necessary to have an up-to-date database on failures. What is new is that the principles of gathering the failure statistics and infl uence of real basic data on the actual reliability value are studied. It is revealed that formation of a database on failures in thermal networks will have a positive impact on promoting the reliability theory among specialists of the heat supplying organizations and operators, will minimize possible deviations of calculated reliability values, will allow to predict the development of heat supply systems in general and to prevent possible cascade damages of the vital power supply systems.

Development of effective model of management by heatsupplying complex of a region

In the article, key problems of regional systems of a heat supply connected with the inefficient organization and regulation of activity of the local heat power companies are considered. Shortcomings of the scheme of the organization of management by heat supplying complex on the basis of the municipal unitary enterprises are described. The main models of interaction of municipalities and private operators within various forms of the private and state partnership are analyzed. Experience of penetration of foreign private operator on the Russian market of thermal energy is studied. On the basis of the conducted research recommendations about the organization of management and operation of heat supplying infrastructure of the region, on the basis of the long-term contractual relations of the large companies operators and bodies of municipal authority on the terms of joint financing and division of risks are offered. The conclusion was drawn on expediency of implementation of these offers on the basis of the concession agreements covering some municipalities of the region that will allow to lower commercial and administrative expenses at the expense of a scale effect, to increase economic profitability and investment appeal of heat power sector of the region economy.

Analysis of the state of production and change in the pattern of consumption of heat energy in Russia and the Sverdlovsk oblast

The analysis of statistical data on heat energy consumption in Russia and the Sverdlovsk oblast for 1990–2010 and the comparative investigation of report data of the regional (Sverdlovskstat), federal (Federal State Statistics Service), and international (International Energy Agency) statistical organization are given. The causes of a decrease in heat energy production are analyzed. The problem areas in the operation of communal-general service, heat supplying organizations, and schemes of their collaboration are revealed. Legis-lative acts and methods for their realization are represented and weak points are determined. Variants for solving the problems of heat supply, namely, the development of the united economic-organizing mechanism of the heat supply system management, are proposed. General principles of such a mechanism are described.

Research on Heat-Supply Energy Conservation Supervisory Controlling System in the Substation with Peak-Shaving Boiler

Heat supplies not only consume large amounts of energy, but also are very inefficient. However, in this case, a monitored control system which will realize 10% energy conservation in heat supplying is designed. This system has a two layer structure: one on-spot control layer and one upper supervisory layer. The former is exploited by PLC; the latter supervise and control the former via GPRS wireless communications. The Internet network will also in this system monitor any of the substations far away from the controlling centre. In this paper, the control scheme, hardware and software of the system will be introduced in detail. Until now, the system has been steadily running for more than 2 heating periods in the station and has pass all the relevant departments’ technical tests.