The geothermal energy production is expanding. How can these systems best be integrated into existing structures?
To answer this question, a simplified district heating network model was set up and applied as well as
validated to an existing 2000 customer district heating network in Bavaria. The network is powered by gas-fired
heating and cogeneration plants. A geothermal plant with a significantly lower supply temperature will replace a
heating plant. This paper investigates the arising operating conditions due to the replacement. Therefore, profiles
of temperature, mass flow and pressure are analyzed. Furthermore, potential damage caused by temperature
changes, a reduction in the supply temperature of the cogeneration plant as well as resulting CO2 emissions,
primary energy consumption and necessary pumping power are examined. The results show that a geothermal
plant with a lower supply temperature can be integrated into an existing district heating network, taking all
operational restrictions into account. The resulting electricity demand for pumping in the network is approx. 5%
higher than with a gas-fired heating plant. In return, annual savings of e.g. 116,000 tCO2 as well as about 437
GWh primary energy can be achieved.
«The geothermal energy production is expanding. How can these systems best be integrated into existing structures?
To answer this question, a simplified district heating network model was set up and applied as well as
validated to an existing 2000 customer district heating network in Bavaria. The network is powered by gas-fired
heating and cogeneration plants. A geothermal plant with a significantly lower supply temperature will replace a
heating plant. This paper investigates the arising ope...
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