@Source-Energy Pipe:
A carbon neutral reliable energy source

Concrete sewage pipe heat recovery system

@Source-Energy Pipe

The @Source-Energy Pipe is a precast concrete sewage (sanitary and storm) pipe with a heat recovery system embedded in the pipe wall. The system recovers heat from sewage effluent in the pipe and/or the ground surrounding the pipe. The system also rejects heat to the sewage effluent, the pipe and the ground surrounding the pipe, thus becoming a thermal battery.

The System is connected to and controlled by heat pumps in buildings. The heat pump functions to upgrade the low-level heat collected by the @Source-Energy System and to distribute the upgraded heat into the building.

In hot weather, the heat pumps reverse, removing heat from the building and rejecting that heat to the @Source-Energy Pipe, cooling the building. Heat rejected to the pipes is stored in the ground for recovery in cold weather to heat the building.

Composition of the System

@Source-Energy Pipes are installed as the public sewage pipe line which is usually buried along the street in front of the building. Each building is assigned a length of pipes as a heat recovery system. Plastic (HDPE) pipes connect the building to the System and are located at the lot line. A valve at the lot line is used to open or close the heat recovery System to that building. The building owner is usually responsible to connect a heat pump in the building to the heat recovery connections (pipes) at the lot line. Precast concrete pipes are custom engineered products with superior strength and durability. The @Source-Energy Pipes exceed the structural strength requirements of the CSA standard 3-edge bearing test.

What are the benefits from using @Source-Energy Pipes?

No GHG emission: Replaces fossil fuels, no need for oil or gas pipelines
@Source-Energy Pipes and ground around them become a Thermal Energy Battery
Avoids emitting approximately 7.5 tons of CO2 per installed house per year
Provides heating and cooling for buildings, with an energy efficiency ranging from 400 to 500%.
New source of revenue for municipalities and developers that can become energy suppliers
Meets ANSI / CSA / IGSHPA C-448 standards
Pipes can be produced in any standard diameter
Contiguous sewer lines provide an opportunity for the district energy system
Can be combined with geothermal wells / fields
Green credits / grants
Short payback period for small initial capital cost
No operating costs and no maintenance required throughout the life of the system, i.e. more than 50 years
@Source-Energy Pipes can function as a primary component of a district energy system.