Biomass for Polygeneration and District Heating

Abstract

This article deals with biomass‐based technologies for polygeneration and district heating ( DH ). The relevant technologies for the generation of heat, power, and biofuels are presented in Section 1 taking into account thermochemical, chemical, and biological pathways. In particular, the opportunity of integrating them for polygeneration—also according to the biorefinery concept—is analyzed here. Biomass combined heat and power ( CHP ) systems for DH application have been compared considering size, efficiency, flexibility of operation, and field experience. In Section 2, heat distribution systems have been described taking advantage of the previous analysis on generation technologies and pointing out the existing relation between distribution, generation efficiencies, and DH network temperature. The current trend toward low temperature DH systems has been then extensively analyzed. The effects of the possible variation in the heat demand—both in the short term (i.e., daily to seasonal utilization profiles) and in the medium term (e.g., building refurbishment)—on the DH system operation and efficiency, are presented here. The biomass CHP systems are also discussed in the vision to extend the smart grid concept to thermal networks. As a whole, pilot or real‐plant data and validated theoretical models are used to support the analysis.

Economics of reusing spent nuclear fuel by Teplator for district heating applications

“…9 In Europe, 50% of the heating demand is expected to be covered by DHSs by 2050. 10 The heat can be produced from fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal, biofuels, 11 geothermal energy, 12 solar energy, 13 nuclear energy, electrical energy, or by using waste heat from power and industrial plants. At the same time, renewable energy-based district heating is growing.…”