Design of a district heating system for the Hammam Righa Spa, Algeria

Abstract

Experience has shown that geothermal energy has a large field of applications: electricity production, aquaculture (fishfarming), industrial drying, greenhouse heating and district heating. The present project deals with this last application. The main aim of the study is is an attempt to master a methodology for the design of district heating system. The district system considered as an example is a group of bungalows situated in a geothermal area in Algeria. The geothermal source gives 67 C hot water. The power demand of the system has been evaluated through the analysis of the weather data of the area and calculation of the heat loss of the buildings. A district heating system has been designed on basis of the results. A cost estimation of the system indicates reasonable heating cost for the spa. The study also includes a dynamic simulation of the system in order to predict the indoor temperature during a simulated cold spell with a duration of few days.