Use of low potencial wastewater heat

Abstract

The article points out that exhaustion of fossil stocks of fuel and negative impacts of fuel burning on environment determined a significant interest in technologies of heat utilization of low-potential sources in many developed countries of the world. Therefore the solution of the problem of using heat utilization technologies of low-potential sources will be of great importance for preserving people's habitats. In Russia, the most promising area of using unconventional energy sources is heat supply systems of houses and buildings. The conducted analysis shows that one of the effective directions of energy saving is heat pump systems of heat supply, using the most available low potential heat source of flooded massif of soil. It is noted that a huge energy potential of water pumped from closed mines is practically unused because of considerable distance of heat consumers from water purification complexes.

A Review of the Performance of Minewater Heating and Cooling Systems

“…Cherni [78] describes the pilot heat pump scheme at Novoshakhtinsk (L), Rostov oblast' (39.9339° E, 47.7478° N) [79]. Here, minewater heat pumps are used to supply two hospitals, two schools and a kindergarten.…”

“…The minewater temperature is dropped by 5-8 °C and the water reinjected to a different horizon of the mine workings at 50 m depth [80]. Three 2 MW back-up gas boilers are available when outdoor temperatures fall well below zero [79]. The cost of the heat pump scheme is reported at 160 million rubles (5.7 million USD at 2011 rates), with a projected 7 year payback.…”

“…Dmitrienko et al [79] indicate the potential of other mines in the area, for example the Glubokaya (Deep) mine, in Shakhty city (40.3244° E, 47.7244° N), which pumps up to 258 L/s water with a temperature in excess of 19 °C. To date, no investors have been forthcoming due to the mine being over 2 km from the nearest locus of demand.…”