Conversion of steam pipelines to hot water pipelines

The steam pipelines, which were used mainly by the famous Brno textile mills to supply the necessary heat, are definitely a thing of the past. They are outdated, poorly sized and uneconomical for today. That is why the municipal company Teplárny Brno (Brno Heat Works) has been gradually replacing steam pipelines with modern hot water pipelines since 2010. It should be finished in 2027.

The projects have a significant impact on the environment and the City of Brno will gain a modern, reliable and environmentally friendly infrastructure for heat supply for decades to come. Thanks to the modernisation of the network, Brno Heat Works will not emit 336 tonnes of CO₂ into the air for every reconstructed kilometre of the heat network per year – the equivalent of 10,000 cars per year. Each connected household will then save an average of 8 to 15% of heating costs, i.e. about CZK 2,000 for each year. Replacing steam pipelines with hot water pipelines will thus guarantee a stable price of heat for its users. The new hot water network will also be much safer. Thanks to the lower temperature that circulates through them, hot steam will no longer escape from the pavements. The 105 smoke signs that now serve as steam outlets will disappear from the city centre.

The original length of the underground steam network was 97 kilometres. Thanks to optimisation, the length of the hot water system has been reduced to 67 kilometres and 56 kilometres have now been completed. The new hot pipelines usually follow the route of the original steam pipelines. First, temporary overhead steam lines are installed to ensure a continuous supply of heat to customers during construction. Then ground works are carried out – the old pipeline is dismantled and replaced with the new hot water pipeline. This is followed by a series of tests including pressure and X-ray tests. The heating companies try to coordinate the replacement of the pipes as much as possible – the solution in the Trnitá district is a good example. Here, the construction of the tram line on Plotní Street took place and the steam pipes were replaced at the same time.

The cost of converting all steam pipelines into hot water pipelines is estimated at CZK 2.9 billion and is one of the strategic projects of the City of Brno. We have supported nine projects (see map) worth approximately CZK 129 million from this complex solution with subsidies from the ITI tool. Now, modern and ecological hot water pipelines supply over 75% of Brno households out of a total of 96,000 that use central heating. This is a win not only for households and heating companies, but also for the ecology.