District Heating/Cogeneration Application Studies for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. Overall Feasibility and Economic Viability for a District Heating/New Cogeneration System in Minneapolis-St. Paul

摘要

A study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of introducing a large-scale, hot water, district heating system for the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The analysis was based on modern-European hot-water district heating concepts in which cogeneration power plants supply the base-load thermal energy. Heat would be supplied from converted turbines of existing coal-fired plants in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Toward the end of the 20-year development period, one or two new cogeneration units would be required. Thus, the district heating system could use low-grade heat from either coal-fired or nuclear cogeneration power stations to replace the space heating fuels currently used - natural gas and distillate oil. It is concluded that the concept is technically feasible, it has great value for fuel conservation, and with appropriate financing the system is economically viable. (ERA citation 05:005853)