There exist the energy cooled from condensers following electricity generation in liquefied natural gas-based combined cycle power plants, heat of exhaust gas emitted from stack, wasted heat from electric furnace and heating furnace at steel mills, an...
There exist the energy cooled from condensers following electricity generation in liquefied natural gas-based combined cycle power plants, heat of exhaust gas emitted from stack, wasted heat from electric furnace and heating furnace at steel mills, and heat energy arising from the process of incineration of waste and detritus in western boundary parts of the Metropolitan area (e.g., Incheon, Ansan, etc). Because these energies decentralized and independently operated in each area, currently they are not efficiently utilized. Therefore, this paper attempts to present the measures to utilize the unused heat sources in the Metropolitan area for the integrated energy businesses (IEB) and report the results from the feasibility analysis of the utilization in terms of nation and society. This study has been conducted based on the following methodologies and procedures.
First, the types and scales of the unused heat sources scattered in western boundary parts of the Metropolitan area are investigated through visits to relevant companies and interviewing them with a survey instrument.
Second, the methods of collecting the unused heat sources that are suitable for the characteristics of facilities of those who produce the unused heat sources are proposed and the amount of the collectable unused heat sources are computed considering the characteristics of facilities of heat sources and rates of operation.
Third, the demand and demander for the unused heat sources are identified. The definite demand for the unused heat sources is estimated using visits to relevant IEB operators and interviews of them with a survey instrument since the unused heat sources will be used in current IEBs. In addition, the potential demand for the district heating system switching from current individual gas heating system or central heating system is calculated based on the principles of estimating heat demand in multi-unit dwelling area.
Fourth, the author addresses the methods of utilizing the unused heat energy for IEB through establishing the wide heat network by examining the locations of the generators of unused heat energy and existing IEB operators.
Fifth, the economic feasibility analysis of the utilization of the unused heat energy for IEB is performed using the Korea Development Institute’s guidelines for ex-ante evaluation of feasibility of the projects conducted by public utilities or enterprises from the standpoint of network business or wholesaler. Moreover, the methods of utilizing the unused heat sources for IEBs are analyzed and looked into.
The results of the feasibility analysis of an integrated energy business project utilizing the unused heat sources in the Metropolitan area show that the benefit/cost ratio and internal rate of return are computed to be 1.72 and 24.26%, which are greater than 1.0 and 5.5%, social discount rate, respectively, and thus the project is socially profitable.
Some important judgments can emerge from the results. The measures of utilizing waste heat energy emitted from factories of industry and/or incineration plants in western boundary parts of the Metropolitan area should be pro-actively taken. Making the loop of wide heatpipe network through heat networking linking GS Power Corporation and Ansan City Development Corporation located in Inchoen-Mokdong-Sadang block proposed in this paper should be also considered for implementation. Moreover, taking the actions to uncover and utilize unused heat energy in other areas of the nation as well as the Metropolitan area should be needed.