A 400-million Euro, 500-MW project to generate heat for the Finnish capital will use seawater from the Baltic even when the sea surface is frozen.
Seawater will be carried to the heat exchangers via a 17-km tunnel being bored from the Baltic seabed – where the temperature is a constant 2 degree C year round. Heat exchangers will transfer and concentrate the heat from the seawater-which is returned to the sea through a nine-km tunnel-to the district heating system where it will reach around 88 degree C.
Already home to the world’s largest heat pump, Helsinki is aiming to become carbon neutral by 2050, and the new pump alone is expected to provide up to 40% of the city’s heating requirements when it goes online in around 2029. A utility company currently provides around 8% of Helsinki’s heating through recovering heat from waste water and the excess from data centres and other buildings.
Frequency converter technology plays an essential role in heat pump product development. ABB’s frequency converters increase the efficiency of Oilon’s heat pumps in almost all of its sites in Helsinki. Frequency converter control can be used for the variable rotational speed control of a heat pump compressor.
“A heat pump must be able to handle different load and temperature conditions. Frequency converter control enables precise control and a large partial capacity range,” Martti Kukkola explains.
Frequency converter technology has Finnish roots – the first frequency converter developed by the engineers of Strömberg controlled the speed of metro trains in Helsinki. In ABB’s hands, the technology has evolved into an extensive frequency converter range, and ABB Finland is responsible for the technology’s global product development.
“Our reasons for choosing ABB are reliability, an extensive range, and equipment that is functional from a techno-economic perspective,” Kukkola says.
Using Oilon’s and ABB’s technologies, Helen has been able to provide its customers with more energy-efficient solutions to cover heating and cooling needs. Valuable heat is produced in a climate-friendly way as a by-product of cooling.
“As a technology leader, we want to be the trailblazer for energy efficiency, and by cooperating with partners, we can do more and have a greater influence in this area. It is valuable to be able to build a more sustainable future with Oilon and Helen by combining Finnish innovation expertise,” says Mika Männistö, Sales Director, ABB Motion Finland.
Energy-efficient frequency converters and motors offer substantial potential for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. ABB encourages all stakeholders to cooperate within the framework of the Energy Efficiency Movement to bring about a comprehensive reduction in energy consumption.
Credit : Energyefficiencymovement.com
Picture Credit : Google
