Connect electricity decisions to the temperature, timing and reliability of a useful heat service. Compare direct electric heating, heat pumps and electrically charged thermal storage on one process boundary.
This centre covers process heat, heat recovery, heat pumps, thermal storage and their electrical interfaces. Heating examples use MWh_th and MWh_e explicitly; they do not turn stored heat into electrical backup capacity. Cooling requires a separate cold-service boundary and performance data.
Topic training and membership
Data centres, VPP, energy storage and heat–power each offer nine lessons in three modules. The three lessons in each first module are free. Modules two and three are included in monthly and annual Intelligence membership, with technical explanations, figures, engineering cases, exercises and worked answers: 24 member lessons across four topics.
The existing price remains US$19.90 monthly or US$199 annually. One subscription includes all four topics; active members do not buy courses separately. Knowledge libraries, technology overviews, existing topic calculators, data checklists and self-service diagnostics remain free.
Member lessons are available during an active subscription. Topic courses are currently in English and Simplified Chinese. Custom project analysis, design review and personal consulting require a separate scope and quotation; they are not included in the subscription.
This pathway contains three modules and nine lessons. Each includes technical explanations, a diagram, a teaching case, independent exercises and worked answers. Complete each module output before progressing; existing battery lesson URLs are preserved.
HP1 · Useful heat, storage and integration foundations
Module output: Prepare a useful-heat boundary, charge–hold–discharge balance and integration baseline.
MODULE LESSON 1
HP1.1 · Useful heat, temperature and electrification pathways
Industrial heat is a service with quantity, temperature and timing. This lesson distinguishes electrical energy, fuel input and useful thermal output, then explains why a high COP is insufficient unless source heat and process delivery conditions also match.
Define useful MW_th/MWh_th separately from electrical and fuel inputs.
Explain direct heating, heat recovery and heat-pump energy balance.
Check temperature quality, source availability and electrical headroom.
HP1.2 · Thermal storage and the charge–hold–discharge chain
Thermal storage can move electricity consumption away from the process delivery window, but the stored quantity, usable temperature range and recovery opportunity must all match. This lesson tracks one heat duty through a complete electrically charged storage chain.
Distinguish sensible, latent and other storage mechanisms from the useful-service boundary.
Calculate charge energy and connection/window constraints without mixing MWh_e and MWh_th.
Identify why large nominal capacity can still fail a time-limited duty.
HP1.3 · Integrated retrofit, economics and verification
A heater that works in isolation may not deliver a production retrofit. This lesson connects process and electrical interfaces, operating priorities and measured evidence, then separates a period energy comparison from a complete investment case.
Identify heat-exchanger, source, grid and legacy-backup dependencies.
Separate energy cost, lifecycle cash flow and verified emissions boundaries.
Design an evidence-based acceptance and monitoring plan.
HP2 · Heat sources, steam and thermal-store engineering
Module output: Prepare a source/sink survey, compatible enthalpy balance and a feasible charging specification.
MODULE LESSON 1
HP2.1 · Heat-source survey and heat-pump integration
Record source temperature, flow and operating hours beside process demand. Waste heat available only after the production shift cannot automatically supply a heat pump during the shift. Distinguish recoverable source heat from a stream total enthalpy; contamination and minimum return temperature can reduce extraction.
Calculate electricity and source requirements.
Calculate the source-limited output at the assumed COP.
Steam duties require pressure and enthalpy, including dryness or superheat where relevant. A supply temperature alone does not define usable steam. Hot-water duties require supply and return temperatures and flow. Distinguish heating a stream from vaporising it.
Sensible heat changes temperature; latent heat uses phase change; thermochemical storage uses a reversible process. Select by delivery temperature and heat-transfer conditions before nominal capacity. Materials, containment and cycling evidence differ, even when suppliers quote the same thermal MWh.
Module output: Prepare control priorities, an energy-price threshold and a metered acceptance/decision pack.
MODULE LESSON 1
HP3.1 · EMS, thermal controls and production priority
The EMS can schedule prices, import limits and storage targets, but local thermal controls regulate temperatures, pressures and flow. Equipment protections and process safety remain authoritative. A price signal is a request inside a permitted envelope, not permission to exceed process limits.
Calculate duration before protected reserve is reached.
Compare fuel and electricity for the same useful service. Match the heating-value convention between fuel price and boiler efficiency. Separate measured efficiency from a datasheet value and preserve production volume, weather and operating-hour assumptions when annualising.
Calculate the period energy-cost difference.
Calculate the electricity price threshold.
Can this establish project payback or carbon savings?
Record useful heat, supply/return state, hours, interruption limits, electrical headroom and available sources. Separate measured records, contractual commitments and assumptions. An integrated design should explain both normal production and the first credible failure or maintenance mode.
Reviewed 26 October 2026. Text, diagrams and exercises are original. All numerical cases use stated teaching assumptions, rather than site measurements or manufacturer commitments. These primary sources support the technical background; verify their applicability to each project.