Enhancing the waste heat utilization of industrial park: A heat pump-centric network integration approach for multiple heat sources and users

The industrial sector, which is characterized by high energy consumption, primarily using fossil fuels, exhibits significant carbon emissions and severe pollution. Industrial parks generate abundant waste heat with varying flow rates and multiple grades, and also include industrial users with diverse heat demand profiles. Waste heat recovery is an effective method for reducing fossil fuel consumption. However, the current waste heat recovery methods focus on single-heat-source scenarios, making them unsuitable for use in industrial parks with multiple heat sources and heating loads. To achieve efficient matching between different sources and loads, this study developed a heat-pump-centric network system and establishes a two-stage optimization method for networked waste heat utilization. First, based on matrix algebra, a method for matching the generated waste heat with heat pump combinations and heat users was developed to obtain a networked heating path. Second, an optimization model for heat pump combinations was established, and linear integer programming algorithms were employed to obtain the optimal configuration and operational plan for the heating path. Finally, energy flow analysis was conducted to elucidate the optimal energy distribution. The results show that, compared to traditional heating modes, the proposed method achieved a 55 % reduction in energy consumption with a payback period of 4.6 years. The proposed system could enhance the matching between different grades of waste heat and heating demand, thereby improving the thermal energy utilization efficiency. The proposed method demonstrates significant energy saving with efficient utilization and economic benefits and can be applied to different scenarios with multiple sources and loads.