Methodology of evaluating the sewage heat utilization potential by modelling the urban sewage state prediction model

Utilization of sewage heat is a novel concept in the field of renewable energy development, especially for recovering heat through pipelines on a regional scale to maximize the utilization potential. However, the features and utilization potential of sewage heat are yet to be completely explored. This study aims to develop a methodology based on a proposed urban sewage state prediction model (USSPM) to evaluate the potential of using sewage heat. In this study, a prediction model is constructed, and the model is applied to an actual area to investigate the sewage heat utilization potential using case studies. The novelty of the proposed methodology is that the measurement data of sewage flow rate and temperature are not essential; thus, the model can be applied to assess the sewage heat utilization potential for both existing urban areas and new areas that are still under development. Moreover, the evaluation objectives can be expanded to a regional scale instead of a single building. Through this methodology, urban planners can efficiently formulate energy policies during the initial phase. The proposed model is expected to leverage the potential of sewage heat in the future and realize the goal of energy conservation.