A case study on the technical and economical feasibility of different types of central heating systems for ÇATES lodgements

Abstract

In this study, the practicability of central heating systems of water source heat pump, coal and natural gas boiler-radiator are economically investigated for ÇATES lodgements in Zonguldak Çatalağzı. The effects of prices of coal, natural gas and electricity with TL/USD exchange rates over the total costs of these systems are also examined for next 15 year projections. The results indicate that natural gas boiler-radiator system is more applicable and the heat pump system comes the head to head point with the coal boiler-radiator system in the total costs 3.5 years approximately after their installations because of increasing prices of coal. Under the conditions that the other variables are in the trends of the last ten years, the increase in the value of dollar decreases the costs of all systems and prolongs the time of reaching to the head to head point for the systems of heat pump and coal. Moreover, ascending electricity’s price significantly increases the cost of heat pump system. Coal heating system become more economic according to heat pump system by 13% decrease in coal’s price every year, and annual 12% increment in the price of natural gas makes heat pump system feasible