Superior life cycle cost for district energy systems
Compact, reliable and efficient heating and/or cooling of homes, offices, schools and hospitals, with a low carbon footprint. Proven in millions of installations worldwide. Why wait? There are only advantages to be had.
District heating
Many cities around the world with cooler climates are benefiting from district energy systems delivered through heat networks. The technology for this is relatively simple: hot water supplied by one or several centralized plants, is transported through a piping system to provide heating where it is needed - homes, offices, hospitals schools and factories. District heating systems provide a number of benefits that include lower carbon footprint and low lifecycle cost.
Radiators, connected to a central heat source, such as a condensing boiler, are designed to heat the air in the room using convection to transfer heat from the radiators to the surrounding air. This will be done by drawing in heated water through connecting pipes, which is then pumped to each radiator in the building.
Most underfloor heating systems use the principles of radiant heat to transfer radiant energy from an emitting heat source, typically a boiler or hot-water heater. Warm water flows through a heat exchanger located underneath the floor. It is used in a wide range of buildings, from apartment blocks and houses to large offices and other commercial premises.
There are two types of system, centralized, meaning a central heating unit that is typically installed in the basement of larger buildings and used to heat water distributed to all users in the building, and de-centralized, meaning a heat exchanger is installed in each building across a development, so that each apartment or office has its own individual supply.
The heat exchanger acts as a link between the base unit and the residential or industrial/commercial building sub-stations and can be arranged in either a traditional parallel or 2-Stage set-up. SWEP 2-stage brazed plate heat exchanger units that drive such systems combine a preheater and an afterheater. This enables returned water from the radiator circuit heat exchanger to be used to preheat water intended for domestic use.
District cooling
In cities with hotter climates, district energy systems are used to deliver cooling. As with district heating, the technology to deliver this is relatively simple. Cooling energy in the form of cold water is produced centrally and transported to customers via a closed circuit. And again as with district heating, this can be achieved with decreased carbon footprint, cost efficiently and reliably.
District Cooling delivers chilled water to buildings like offices and factories. Cooling energy in the form of cold water is produced centrally and transported to users via a closed circuit. Such systems are highly reliable and cost effective, with low running and maintenance costs, with hazardous substances such as refrigerants removed at source.
These are used in taller buildings and enable chilled water to overcome pressure to reach high level cooling units. Heat exchangers are installed at regular intervals (eg. every ten or fifteen floors) between the ground and top floors of the building, providing a ‘link’ from the central chiller. Pressure breakers have a similar design as sub-station BPHEs used in District Heating systems.
Free cooling is an economical method of using low external air temperatures to assist in chilling water, which can then be used for industrial processes, or air conditioning systems. The chilled water can either be used immediately or stored for the short- or long-term. A heat exchanger is placed as an intermediary between the cooling source and the cooling unit. The main uses are for air-conditioning and process cooling. Ice Storage is similar, with ice produced and then used for cooling during the day. The set-up is similar to Free Cooling.
Take a drone flight through SWEPs District Energy landscape
Take a drone flight through SWEPs District Energy landscape and discover how energy saving applications play a key role in decarbonizing the planet. The tour will make several stops to explain various energy saving application in more detail. Stops include Energy centres and ORC technology, Solar Farms connecting heat networks, Geothermal heat sourcing, Heat pumps to warm and cool buildings and the reuse of Surplus heat for heating applications.
To take the flight tour through SWEPs District Energy landscape, please click play on the film icon. After the flight, please visit our virtual showroom to learn more.
Discover how energy saving applications play a key role in decarbonizing the planet.
