Electric Induction Heat Generators, Automatic Heat Supply Systems

Why are heat generators necessary?

“A Modern level of prices for natural gas in European countries is 220-350 USD / thd. m³ for industrial consumers and 550-600 USD / thd. m³ for domestic consumers, with tendency to the further increase. Due to the liberalization of power markets, approaching of price for natural gas in Ukraine to the world prices is unavoidable."

(“Energy strategy of Ukraine for the period till the year 2030” approved by the Guideline of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dd. 15.03.2006 No. 145-р)

At the same time, the predictable underrun of increases rate of prices for electrical energy from the prices for natural gas and oil creates economic conditions for usage of electrical energy instead of natural gas and fuel oil in industrial and domestic heat supply systems.

For optimization of electrical energy production capacities and increase of factor of nuclear power plant units capacities utilization through increase of the electrical energy consumption during “night dip” hours, a step-by-step change of gas heating by accumulation electrical heating systems being load-controlled consumers is required; such a method provides an optimum management of zonal and peak-period tariffs for electrical energy. This actions will allow to decrease essentially volumes of the natural gas consumption for heating.

In addition to the usage of accumulation electrical heating systems, a massive substitution of the carbonhydrate fuel from low and average temperature heating systems (heating technology, hot water supply, ventilation and conditioning) will ensure the usage of electric heat generators and thermal transformers.

The replacement of gas boiler stations by electric heat generators and accumulation electrical heating can ensure the substitution of more than a half of volume of natural gas used for the heat supply in the industry and household activities.

What are electric induction heat generators?

As of now, tubular and electrode electric heaters commonly used have a number of disadvantages. These disadvantages include short service lives, low level of electrical and fire safety, unreliability and necessity of regular maintenance of equipment.

“Firm Elecon Ltd.” LLC offers the implementation of the induction heating technology free from these disadvantages. The induction heaters were designed as alternative ones for tubular and electrode heat sources. Constructive solutions applied in the induction heaters provide:

• high reliability (absence of elements subject to wear)
• long-term operation (30 years)
• electrical safety (2 class of electric shock protection)

The heaters use the industrial frequency (50 Hz) and have the following energy indicators: efficiency factor 98% and power factor 0.985. Other main advantages of the induction equipment are:

• safety for environment and health
• fire and explosion safety
• absence of local overheatings, uniform heating (low gradient of temperatures between a heat transfer agent and heat exchange device)
• no consent of boiler inspection bodies is required
• easy connection, operation and servicing (no need to have the highly qualified service personnel)
• immunity to the water chemical composition in the heating system
• independence
• automatic control system with high-accurate support of parameters specified

The induction heating equipment: heating and hot water supply plants providing the possibility to avoid the gas usage. The cost of 1 Gcal of heat obtained by means of the induction accumulation electric heater is lower than for the gas or solid-fuel heat generator.

Economic evaluation of viability of electric induction heat generators usage

The economic evaluation of viability of induction heaters usage for heat supply of the objects is based on the comparison of cost of a heat unit (1 Gcal) produced by different types of heat generators, using the applicable electricity tariffs, cost of gas, liquid and solid fuel.

• DOWNLOAD Induction heating equipment (research note) [PDF]
• DOWNLOAD Resolution of NCREPI of Ukraine on approval of retail electrical energy tariffs for industrial and domestic consumers [PDF]

The technical and economic performance of the result of implementation of a combined heat supply system based on the 100 kW induction heater with heat accumulation at “VEMSIS” LLC, Vishnyovoye, Kiev region (heating period 2010/2011)

At “VEMSIS” LLC in Vishnyovoye, Kiev region, our company has commissioned a combined heating system based on the induction heater with heat accumulation and installed automated system of monitoring and control (ASMC). According to the calculations of economic indicators, the following results for heating season 2010/2011 were obtained:

• reduction of payback period from 7 to 3 years
• reduction of thermal energy consumption by 13% due to ASMC implementation
• reduction of thermal energy costs by 42%

• DOWNLOAD Report on implementation of the heat supply system at “VEMSIS” LLC, Vishnyovoye, Kiev region
  [PDF in a RAR archive, part 1] + [PDF in a RAR archive, part 2]