Hera Central District Heating Plant
Cogeneration plant with engine
Cefla has built a plant for Hera for the production of superheated water for the urban district heating network, consisting of two endothermic engines and auxiliary and emergency boilers.
Strengths
Efficient cogeneration
The plant uses exhaust fumes from the engines to produce superheated water at 120°C, which is fed into the district heating network.
Integration with existing network
The plant is integrated into Hera's district heating network, improving the overall efficiency of the system.
Key Numbers
50 Km
Total length of the net
4.850 kWe
Installed electrical power
4.350 kW
Heat output recovered
120°C and 90°C
Thermal production (superheated water)
Background
Hera, an Italian multi-utility company, has entrusted Cefla with the construction of a cogeneration plant to upgrade its district heating network, improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Cefla was responsible for the construction of a plant for the production of superheated water for the urban district heating network, consisting of two endothermic engines and auxiliary and emergency boilers.
Challenges
- Maximise energy recovery
Use engine exhaust fumes to produce heat for district heating.
- Integration with existing infrastructure
Ensure the system is compatible with the existing district heating network.
Project Tasks
Cefla has designed and built a cogeneration plant equipped with two internal combustion engines, with a total electrical power of 4,850 kWe. The exhaust fumes are used to produce superheated water at 120°C, which is fed into the district heating network.
Implementation
The cogeneration plant uses engine exhaust fumes (4 MW) to produce superheated water (120°C) for the district heating network. Thermal energy is recovered from the cooling of the internal engine circuits to produce water at 90°C for use in another district heating network. The same network is supplied by two smoke tube hot water generators with a total capacity of 13 MW and can be further heated using the 120°C water produced in the plant through a heat exchange system. The plant is designed to produce cold water for district cooling.
The plant has been successfully completed, contributing to the energy efficiency of Hera's district heating network and reducing CO₂ emissions.
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