Analysis of the possibilities of optimal connection of heat pumps to the city’s boiler house scheme

Abstract

Relevance: improving energy security, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and mitigating adverse environmental impacts require the implementation of energy-efficient technologies in district heating systems. For heat sources in Tashkent, reducing dependence on natural gas and heavy fuel oil used as a reserve fuel is an important task. The use of heavy fuel oil is associated with high operating costs and emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere.

Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating heat pumps into the technological scheme of the existing Heat Center No. 3 (HC-3) operated by “Toshkent Issiqlik Markazi” LLC and to determine the optimal connection options for reducing reserve heavy fuel oil consumption and improving the reliability of heat supply.

Methods: the study employed analytical and comparative methods, evaluation of the heat pump coefficient of performance (COP), and assessment of the environmental effect.

Results: three heat pump connection options were considered: heating makeup water, recovering heat from exhaust flue gases, and connecting the heat pump to the return pipeline of the district heating network. The analysis confirms the technical feasibility and economic viability of applying heat pumps in Tashkent’s district heating system. The integration of heat pumps makes it possible to eliminate heavy fuel oil combustion in the reserve operating mode, reduce operating costs, increase the efficiency of the heat source by 7–10%, and achieve an estimated payback period of 4–6 years. An additional environmental benefit is the elimination of soot and sulfur oxide emissions associated with operation on reserve fuel.