Central district heating systems have gained attention in recent years because they can be more efficient than localised boiler units. The efficiency of district heating is usually realised due to power generation plants being able to produce heat and electricity simultaneously.
They also use more advanced flue gas cleaning than single boiler systems resulting in better pollution prevention.In central district heating systems, heated water from power plants is distributed to densely populated residential and industrial areas by insulated piping networks.
Large storage tanks are typically used to safely store heat for use during periods of peak load demand. High water quality is required to maintain the integrity of a centralised system’s infrastructure.
To prevent internal corrosion and to increase the lifetime of piping and storage tanks, water needs to be treated carefully. Inlet water is typically filtered, softened and has low oxygen content. Impurities are removed during the initial filling of the system; however, water is also needed to feed the recirculation system that is used to compensate for any water loss.
As part of this refilling system, Jotem Waterbehandling BV installed Liqui-Cel membrane contactors for O2 removal at a Netherlands power station. The system exceeded expectations, achieving oxygen removal down to 5 ppb.
The main advantage of the Liqui-Cel Membrane Contactor system compared to conventional degassing technology is its small footprint. This allowed Jotem to install the O2 removal system close to the point-of-use at the treatment solution with low energy demand and operating costs.
