Improved district heating network operation by the integration of high-temperature heat pumps

Biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants connected to district heating networks are a very good opportunity to increase the share of renewable sources into energy systems. Frequently, important consumers are connected to ensure a stable base heat demand throughout the year but they often have higher requirements in terms of temperature (i.e. steam), which involves a high level of temperature in the district heating network during the whole year and high levels of heat losses in the network. This contribution presents the possibility to decrease the level of temperature at which the district heating network operates and to use high-temperature heat pumps connected locally at the consumption point to produce steam when it is required. An investigation of the global design and integration through thermodynamic simulation models is realised for the University of Liège district heating network. This study is intended to determine the heat pump coefficient of performance and, therefore, to assess the balance between the savings in terms of heat losses and the additional heat pump electricity consumption.