Jätevesilämmön

Jätevesilämpö, also known as wastewater heat recovery, is a technology that captures thermal energy from wastewater and reuses it for heating purposes. This process involves extracting heat from domestic or industrial wastewater before it is discharged. The recovered heat can then be utilized to warm buildings, preheat domestic hot water, or even contribute to district heating systems.

The primary method for capturing wastewater heat is through heat exchangers. Wastewater flows through one side of the heat exchanger, while a separate fluid, typically water or a refrigerant, flows through the other side. Heat is transferred from the warmer wastewater to the cooler fluid. This warmed fluid is then circulated to where the heat is needed. Advanced systems may incorporate pumps, filters, and storage tanks to optimize the heat recovery process and ensure a consistent supply of usable heat.

Jätevesilämpö offers several environmental and economic benefits. It reduces the demand for fossil fuels used in conventional heating, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to climate change mitigation. By utilizing a readily available and often overlooked energy source, it can also lead to significant cost savings on energy bills for buildings and municipalities. The technology is particularly effective in densely populated urban areas where large volumes of wastewater are generated. Implementation typically requires careful planning and consideration of local infrastructure and wastewater characteristics.