Evaluation and optimization of water source heat pump for district heating: A case study in steel plant
Summary
Using high-temperature heat pump technology to recover waste heat of circulating cooling water in a steel plant for central heating system not can only reduce the temperature of circulating cooling water to meet the needs of smelting process but also can save energy and protect environment as well as bring great economic benefits to steel plant that can sell heat to the heat users. The energy consumption equation of heat pump central heating system was established based on the energy consumption of heat pump, energy consumption of water pump, and heat loss. The optimal inlet water temperature, inlet flow rate, and the number of operating heat pump modules at different outdoor temperatures were calculated by genetic algorithm. The superiority and operating control strategy of heat pump central heating system were discussed. The results show that with the increase of outdoor temperature, the optimal inlet flow rate and the number of operating heat pump module decrease. However, the inlet water temperature almost does not change. It is more suitable for the heat pump central heating system to change the inlet flow and the number of operating heat pump modules. The operating control strategy equation was established by linear fitting, which provides guidance for the engineering application of heat pump central heating system.
