Heat Transfer Function

District heating networks distribute hot water or steam from central plants to multiple buildings. Substation heat exchangers transfer thermal energy from primary network loop at 80-130°C to secondary building systems at 50-80°C. This separation isolates building circuits from network pressure and water chemistry while enabling temperature control meeting individual facility requirements.

Design Configuration

Plate heat exchangers provide compact high-efficiency design for most applications with easy maintenance and cleaning. Shell-and-tube units for higher pressures or steam-to-water service. ERGIL engineers exchangers based on heating load, primary/secondary temperatures, flow rates, and allowable pressure drops with capacities 0.1-20 MW serving individual buildings or facility groups.

Applications

Apartment building heating and hot water, commercial facility HVAC systems, industrial process heating, institutional buildings including hospitals and schools, and any facility requiring thermal energy from district heating networks. Serves loads from small residential to large industrial consumers across diverse building types.

Control Integration

Temperature control modulates primary flow or secondary circulation maintaining comfortable building conditions while optimizing network efficiency. Differential pressure control prevents hydraulic interference. Weather compensation adjusts heating based on outdoor temperature. Building automation integration enables centralized energy management.

Material Selection

Stainless steel plate exchangers resist corrosion from treated district heating water. Carbon steel shell-and-tube units with corrosion allowances for standard service. Gasket materials suitable for hot water temperatures. Design accommodates pressure differentials between network and building systems typically 10-25 bar primary, 3-6 bar secondary.

Performance Benefits

Efficient heat transfer minimizes temperature approach maximizing network utilization. Compact design suits building mechanical rooms with limited space. Reliable operation provides consistent heating performance. Easy maintenance with accessible cleaning for plate units. Proven technology with extensive district heating application worldwide.

Construction Standards

Design per pressure equipment directives with appropriate pressure and temperature ratings. Plates or tubes rated for water service. Insulation minimizes heat losses. Complete documentation with thermal calculations and maintenance procedures. Compliance with district heating network standards.

Operational Advantages

Isolates building systems from network enabling independent control and protection. Temperature adjustment meets specific building requirements. Pressure separation prevents building equipment exposure to network pressures. Simple reliable operation with minimal maintenance beyond periodic inspection.

ERGIL district-heating heat exchangers deliver dependable thermal energy transfer ensuring efficient comfortable heating in buildings connected to centralized heating networks.