Method and means for heating buildings in a district heating system with waste heat from a thermal power plant

A method of operating a combined electric power generating station and a district heaving system including a plurality of building containing individual rooms which are to be heated with waste heat from the power station, comprising the steps of generating steam using the steam to generate electric power, passing the steam after its use for generating electric power in indirect heat transfer relation with water for transferring heat to the water for adequately cooling the steam and for transferring to the water an amount of heat at least sufficient for heating the buildings, flowing the heated water to an enclosed heat exchange zone in each building to be heated, passing a fluid medium through the heat exchange zone in indirect heat transfer relation with the heated water for heating the fluid medium, re-circulating the water from the heat exchange zone for subsequent passage in heat transfer relation with steam from the power station flowing the heated fluid medium through the building for heating the ambient air in individual rooms therein and regulating the transfer of heat to the air in individual rooms so that any excess heat is released to the atmosphere