District heating
District heating, also known as heat networks or campus heating, is a system that transports heat to residential and commercial buildings through insulated pipes. This heat can come from a variety of traditional and green sources like combined heat and power, energy for waste, geothermal, solar thermal, and waste heat recovery. Alfa Laval’s energy efficient plate heat exchangers can support all district heating processes, reducing carbon emissions and demand for primary energy at the same time.
Choose the right district energy partner
- With millions of heat exchangers in operation within the industry worldwide and service centers covering all markets, Alfa Laval has a proven record.
- We understand the importance to scale up the use of renewable energy, increase heat recovery and have a strong focus to aid customers and partners.
- Our product range covers everything from heat generation in production facilities, to heating the water in your shower.
- And, with AHRI third-party performance certification, you can rest assured that the thermal performance of our products is as good as we say it is.
- As one of our biggest markets, research and development in district heating is high on our agenda and we are creating with you in mind.
Trends in district heating industry
Today, the heating sector is influenced by multiple trends. These trends are mainly driven by increased expectations and targets in decarbonization, energy supply security and energy affordability, customer usability, and energy-efficient performance.
Some of the focused trends in the district heating sector are:
- Low grid temperature. Newly built grids for low temperature or existing grids where operating temperatures are being lowered
- Energy sources: changing fossil fuels to renewables and recycled energy
- Centralized production is complemented by decentralized/local production
- New flexible solutions in terms of supply and network size
- Trend in the sector to work more long-term with investments, digitalization and asset management
- Extended involvement and interaction with the end user to work with energy efficiency and reuse heat. Some customers can be viewed as “Prosumers” – both consumers and producers – not only using but also delivering energy to the grid at times.
Recovering industrial waste heat with heat exchangers and using it for district heating is one of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency on a global scale. The Aurubis Group has taken this very approach to improve sustainability in one of their smelters.
Five generations of district heating
Alfa Laval has been working with the district energy sector for over 70 years, developing new heat exchangers that fit the industry’s specific requirements. Since the first generation of district heating, heat exchangers have been at the heart of their applications. Today, as we look towards generation five, the need for reliable, efficient heat transfer is stronger than ever. Alongside consultants, system builders, energy companies, and our partners, we are driving the transition to a new energy landscape. Contact your local Alfa Laval office to find out how.
The generations of district heating – as temperatures decrease, system efficiency increases.
Alfa Laval Solutions in District heating
In the district heating industry Alfa Laval is supplying heat transfer solutions for energy generation and for substations connecting buildings to the distribution network. Low return temperature increases the efficiency of the total district heating system and should always be the main target for any grid operator.
Production
Generating energy from any source
Alfa Laval heat exchangers can be used to extract heat from the source, whether you are working with renewable energy, data center heat recovery, or even green hydrogen.
Turning excess heat into an affordable heat source
Heat pumps can be used in all kinds of settings, reusing energy for both heating and cooling purposes. Alfa Laval heat exchangers are used in heat pumps of all sizes, supporting energy efficient, reliable heat transfer at even the lowest temperatures.
Distribution
Grids
In some locations heat exchangers are used as pressure breakers. This can be in extensive networks where height and altitude restrictions occur, or, most commonly, in substations between two networks and from distribution networks to buildings.
Demand
End User
Heat exchangers are needed here for two main reasons. Firstly, they are used to isolate and protect the individual buildings from the higher pressures and temperatures available at distribution level. Secondly, they limit the damage that can be caused by a leak in the heating system.
Gasketed plate-and-frame heat exchangers
- Flexible solutions that can be adapted to the duty ensuring highest thermal efficiency
- Compact designs save space and are easy to service and maintain
- Solutions to reduce fouling, stress and corrosion for maximum uptime
Semi-welded plate heat exchangers
- Highly efficient, reliable technology for applications that can cause pressure or temperature fatigue
- Guaranteed long sealing lifetime thanks to unique Alfa Laval RefTight™ sealing system
- A dependable solution for preventing cross-contamination between media
Brazed plate heat exchangers
- Lightweight copper-brazed construction with compact footprint
- Greater thermal efficiency than comparable shell-and-tubes
- Flexible options to fit a variety of applications with all different types of media/fluids
- Ideal for natural and low-GWP refrigerants
Fusion bonded AlfaNova heat exchangers
- True 100% stainless steel construction
- Strong corrosion resistance with aggressive media
- Prevents metal contamination in drinking water and other hygienic applications
- High thermal efficiency and compact footprint
Consultant? System integrator?
Are you a consultant? Look here! With expertise from decades of experience in heat exchange, Alfa Laval offers knowledgeable resources for today’s heating and cooling challenges. Discover answers to complex questions on everything from energy efficiency to natural refrigerants, along with helpful tools that make it simpler to find the right technology for your application.
AHRI-performance-certified HVAC heat exchangers for confident thermal performance
Certification from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the only global third-party verification of thermal performance, giving you independent assurance that your plate heat exchanger will perform in accordance with the manufacturer’s published ratings. Alfa Laval offers AHRI-certified gasketed plate heat exchangers, brazed plate heat exchangers, and fusion-bonded plate heat exchangers.
Making efficiency last for decades
The condition of your heat exchanger affects safety, product quality, and energy costs. Failures lead to downtime and production losses. But, with regular and proactive maintenance, performance is preserved and operations are kept trouble-free and predictable.
We have the expertise to help you, whether you experience a problem today, wish to prevent future issues, or want to solve the problem yourself with our online troubleshooter.
HVAC and the Sustainable cities
Consuming more than two-thirds of the world’s energy, our cities play a crucial role in tackling the climate crisis. A considerable part of cities’ energy consumption is for heating and cooling, which means improving energy efficiency is paramount. Alfa Laval has almost a century of experience in heat transfer and recovery and aims to become carbon neutral by 2030. Let us be your partner in the transformation to a sustainable tomorrow.
