District Heating is an intelligent, environmentally friendly way to supply space heating and hot tap water to commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and homes. Heat is transferred from a central plant or heat source such as a biomass boiler or solar panel array. District heating can use many types of fuel and these are often combined within individual district heating networks. Heat is delivered to consumers through an underground insulated pipe network. The water in the network is continually circulating and therefore is always available to the householder. Instead of every building having its own boiler, district heating is supplied by a central plant and therefore, it takes up minimal space. In comparison with individual oil-fired boilers, district heating can halve energy consumption and significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Heat is generated in district heating plants under controlled conditions, where emissions of hazardous compounds are greatly reduced in comparison with fossil fuel incineration in individual boilers. Replacing individual heating with district heating benefits the neighbouring environment as heat is generated under controlled conditions in plants equipped with all necessary pollution control equipment. Although, District Heating is common throughout Europe in countries such as Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Austria, district heating is only beginning to take off in Ireland.
District Heat Metering
Enerpower can install heat meters.
The amount of heat consumed in the building is measured. The components of the heat meter are: a flow sensor, a temperature sensor pair, and a calculator. The flow sensor measures the volume of circulating district heating water. Temperature sensor pair constantly measures the temperatures of water going into the building and coming out of the building. Based on the readings of the flow sensor and the temperature sensor pair, the calculator calculates the thermal energy used for space heating and for hot service water. The calculator automatically takes into account the water density and specific heat corresponding to the temperature. The measurement of thermal energy for individual buildings is accurate and reliable.
Metering & Billing
Each individual unit both commercial and residential can be metered and monitored and billed according to the energy they use.
Maintenance
Maintenance with call out service, with 24 hour 7 day service to required response times.
CHP:
District heating can utilize the heat from combined heat and power plants by using the waste process heat from the electricity generation. This allows more than 90% of the fuel energy to be utilised, in comparison with 40% utilisation if electricity alone is produced. District heating systems can also utilise waste heat generated by industry.