Structural differences between China’s and Germany’s large district heating systems and their enlightenment

Presents the large district heating system in Heidelberg of Germany, including the aspects of the thermal power station, peak load natural gas or oil boiler and distribution station, distribution pipe network, building heating station and indoor heating system. The analysing and comparing results of the district heating system of China and Germany indicate that the German system has the following characteristics: 1. Heating in an environmental friendly and efficient way; 2. The users have a free choice of a higher comfort level heating and enjoy central domestic hot water all-the-year-round; 3. The high efficient distribution system reduces both the initial investment and energy consumption of water system, and solve the problem with hydraulic balance in the heating pipe network; 4. The better regulating ability helps the heating system to be adjusted according to both changes of the weather and the user side flow rate. 5. The overall economic and technical assurance measures make a perfect achievement of the behavior energy-saving target of heat metering. 6. The stringent requirements of heating pipe insulation reduce heat losses during the heating distribution process.