Distributed vs. centralized heating

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Heat., Piping Air Cond.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6124659

Mehrotra, P; Sood, P

Decentralization of the steam system in an industrial plant can dramatically reduce energy waste and operating costs. The approach (1) utilizes high-pressure gas piping to properly selected and located heat sources such as fluid heaters, boilers, and ovens, (2) replaces stream with a high-temperature fluid heat-transfer medium and/or hot water, and (3) provides a high- or low-pressure steam source near those users that must use stream. In a case study of a 50-year-old Chicago building housing a felt and rubber products plant, a steam profile revealed that 48% of the energy supplied to the boiler was wasted through flue gases, steam leakage, condensate drain, and transmission heat losses; 42% was used to provide ventilation preheat and transmission heat losses in winter; and 10% was actually for process heat. The Chicago plant installed instantaneous water heaters, a gas-fired fluid heater, six air-to-air heat exchangers, infrared heaters for the plant perimeter, and a low-pressure steam boiler for office heating, cutting gas consumption over 30%. Decisions about decentralization should consider the age of the plant, diversity of use, load factor, operation variations of production sections, and uncertainity of production planning.

• OSTI ID: 6124659
• Journal Information: Heat., Piping Air Cond.; (United States), Journal Name: Heat., Piping Air Cond.; (United States) Vol. 55; ISSN HPAOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
034000 -- Natural Gas-- Combustion
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
APPLIANCES
BOILERS
CONSUMPTION RATES
COST
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEATERS
HEATING SYSTEMS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
NATURAL GAS
OPERATING COST
STEAM
WATER HEATERS