ECLUSE, part of the Antwerp North Heat Network initiative, is a network of steam and condensate pipes between the thermal Indaver/SLECO processing plants and a number of companies in Waasland Port. This enables the companies to purchase heat according to their own needs.
The heating network transports steam, generated during incineration, through an insulated steam pipe to the steam consumers. The transport is done efficiently and without appreciable loss using superheated steam at high pressure (40 bar) and high temperature (400 °C).
The hot water passes through condensate piping back to Indaver/SLECO where it is used once again as feedwater in the steam boiler. The pipelines are approximately 5 kilometres long and are laid partly underground (1 km) and partly above ground (4km). ECLUSE applies a solidarity principle for its heat extractors. Each purchaser pays the same rate for transport.
Steam purchasers
Customers for green heat in the Waasland Port are mainly companies in the chemical sector due to the energy-intensive nature of the business. The ECLUSE-customers are all Essenscia members (Belgian Federation for Chemistry and Life Sciences Industries), based in the Waasland Port and committed to purchase steam from ECLUSE for at least 10 years. ADPO, Ashland, Monument Chemical, Ineos Phenol and Lanxess use this steam in their production processes.
Other companies may join the network at a later date. The ECLUSE heating network is designed to supply double the heat capacity that is required today. This will also cater for an increase in heat requirement from companies that joined the scheme from beginning.
ECLUSE is a partnership between Indaver, SLECO, FINEG, Water-Link, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever. Essenscia, supports the project. Fluvius is responsible for the operations of the network.
Source and image credit Ecluse
