District heating
District heating utilizes underground infrastructure to supply heat and hot water from one or several central heat sources to a network of buildings. Hot water produced at the source is transmitted through highly insulated underground piping to the building’s heating system, eliminating the need for individual heat sources in the buildings. District heating simplifies building operations and maintenance, boosts energy efficiency, and reduces emissions.
Energy centers
Energy centers act as a node in the heat grid and transmit heat from the primary pipelines into secondary grids. The BPHEs in energy centers serve as barriers of the two different temperature and possible pressure levels. To mitigate temperature losses, there is need for efficient heat exchangers.
Proven technology for district heating systems
SWEP is a world-leading provider of brazed plate heat exchangers for district heating networks. Our robust, compact and efficient BPHEs function perfectly as pressure breakers between the energy center and the substations of residential or industrial buildings. By protecting the building’s heating system from the high pressures and temperatures generated at the energy center, SWEP BPHEs reduce the wear on pumps, piping and valves. And if a leak does occur in the building’s heating system, a SWEP BPHE can limit the potential damage by ensuring that there is a limited amount of water in the circuit.
Combined heat and power
Combined heat and power (CHP) – provides both electric power and heat from a single fuel source. Heat generated for CHP can be used to drive turbine-powered generators or to be used to provide the heat grid with district heating.
More heat from less energy
SWEP BPHEs are crucial components in CHP systems, making it possible both to extract more heat from the initial energy source and to recover excess low-temperature heat for reuse. They can also help address issues that arise from discrepancies of altitude between the energy center where the heat is produced and the city that utilizes the heat. In these applications, SWEP BPHEs can be used as pressure breakers.
Substations
District heating substations are the intermediate systems that connect individual buildings to the energy center where heat, hot water, and often power, are generated. Substations vary in size according to the demands of the building they need to heat and are also adapted to the unique specifications of the energy centers and heating systems that they connect.
Boosting substation output
SWEP BPHEs are one of the primary components in district heating substations. They are used in multiple positions, including as pressure breakers between the main network and any secondary networks, as well as between the distribution network and individual buildings. SWEP BPHEs also make it possible to generate secondary heating from return water that has a temperature lower than that of the primary grid. This type of low-temperature system makes it possible to deliver more heat to a larger area from a single, shared substation.
Sustainability
CLEAN ENERGY
Get ready for next-generation heating
District heating substations are the intermediary systems that connect individual buildings to the energy center where heat, hot water, and often power, are generated. Substations vary in size according to the demands of the building they need to heat and are also adapted to the unique specifications of the energy centers and heating systems that they connect.
Meet the SWEP B649
The B649 is a single-phase BPHE designed especially for district heating and cooling applications, where it can be used in a variety of functions in the heat grid such as pressure breaker, in energy centers or large building’s substations. The B649 has a variety of plate types that optimize the heate transfer performance and pressure drop. The B649 is an efficient, compact BPHE optimized for close temperature approaches at high operating pressure. DN 150 ports enable a complete conversion to BPHEs in district heating and cooling networks.
Relevant products for district heating applications
For more specific options use our selection software.
Copyright © 2025 SWEP International AB, a Dover company
Copyright © 2025 SWEP International AB, a Dover company