Steam and hot water

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers useful thermal energy supplied in steam or hot water from boilers, electric heaters, cogeneration, recovered-heat exchangers and heat pumps. The foreground package declares one carrier, its thermodynamic state, one metered supply gate and one accounting period. A mixed production portfolio is disaggregated by carrier and state before aggregation. Equipment manufacture, electricity as a reference product, unheated water, ice, cooling services and downstream heat use are excluded from this product identity. Infrastructure and its end of life are included through linked datasets when material; all exclusions and cut-offs require an explicit assessment.

The professional category translation is 蒸汽和热水: 蒸汽 denotes water vapour supplied for heat, and 热水 denotes the liquid heat carrier. The Chinese category title is an authored translation of the verified UNSD English title, not an asserted official UNSD Chinese label.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.ores-and-minerals-electricity-gas-and-water.electricity-town-gas-steam-and-hot-water.steam-and-hot-water
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 17300; classification identity only, no accepted mapping asserted
covered_products	Supplied steam heat; supplied hot-water heat
excluded_products	Boilers and turbines as equipment; unheated water; cooling; heat-use services
representative_product	Metered thermal energy supplied in one declared steam or hot-water state
production_route	Combustion boiler; electric heating; cogeneration; heat recovery; heat pump
market_state	Thermal energy at a declared producer or consumer supply gate

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Supply useful thermal energy through one declared heat carrier
How much	1 MJ net supplied heat
How well	Declared pressure, temperature, phase and steam quality; supply and return enthalpy basis; gate
How long or cycle	Accounting period declared; include startup, shutdown and seasonal operation
reference_flow_link	supplied_heat

Field	Value
Reference amount	1
Reference product flow	Heat from steam or hot water 8c96c869-cd82-4301-bb74-b2f9f61ce109
Reference flow property	Gross calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-14da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit group	Units of energy 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	MJ
Required qualifiers	carrier; phase; pressure; supply temperature; steam quality when wet; return temperature and pressure or explicit no-return baseline; metering gate; production technology; fuels; geography; accounting period; CHP allocation; network extent

The reference flow is one energy exchange. Its database name covers the product category; a dataset must fix its carrier rather than combine alternative carrier exchanges. Qualifiers belong in metadata, product description or reference-flow comments. The database property label is retained for identity; thermal heat is measured as net transferred energy, not by assigning a combustion calorific value to water.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
heat_basis	supplied_heat	Energy	MJ	All quantities use per reference flow: 1 MJ net heat at the declared gate. Collection uses cp_heat with the same accounting period.
heat_meter	supplied_heat	Energy	MJ	Use calibrated net heat metering. Otherwise integrate supply and return enthalpy flows separately, subtracting the net exported carrier mass times a declared make-up-water baseline enthalpy. Record state, enthalpy method and steam quality; do not assume equal supply and return mass for open steam systems.
electric_units	generation_power; delivery_power; chp_electricity	Energy	MJ	Convert metered kWh to MJ using 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ; retain raw readings and meter boundary.
gas_volume	gas_fuel	Volume	m3	Retain gas meter reference temperature, absolute pressure, compressibility correction and supplier calorific-value basis; volume cannot be compared without matching reference conditions.
chemical_mass	alkali; oxygen_scavenger	Mass	kg	Record chemical product mass, purity and solution concentration; active chemical mass equals product mass times its measured mass fraction.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Delivered fuels, electricity, make-up water and purchased steam at identified site inlets; separately declared recovered-heat inlet
starting_condition_role	Foreground starts at measured site receipts; background represents upstream production
product_classification_scope	Steam and hot-water thermal energy; electricity co-product retains separate identity
recursive_input_rule	Record imported steam once as imported_steam_heat; link its supplier dataset and do not unfold the same supplier recursively
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link compatible supplier fuel, electricity, water, chemical, imported-heat, waste-treatment and material infrastructure datasets
disclosure	Declare plant versus consumer gate; network length and ownership; return loop; recovery source; CHP scope; infrastructure; cut-offs and upstream coverage

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
boundary_operation	foreground	Include water management, heat generation, metering and delivery, startup and standby consumption within the declared gate.	doe-steam-boiler-water
boundary_returns	water_management	Measure make-up and return separately; internal condensate circulation is a balance record, not repeated purchased-water input. Record external blowdown and leakage.	doe-steam-boiler-water
boundary_network	heat_delivery	At a consumer gate include network pumping and losses; at a plant gate disclose the excluded downstream network.	doe-steam-boiler-water
boundary_chp	heat_generation	Include the whole CHP generation and heat-recovery unit before splitting common burdens; subtract internal electrical loads from gross electrical production.	epa-chp-efficiency
boundary_additions	all processes	Add individual atomic exchanges for actual fuels, treatment agents, ash streams, refrigerants and environmental heat sources absent from the common inventory. No blanket omission of unlisted exchanges is permitted.

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
water_management	Water conditioning and return accounting	required	Within declared supply gate	foreground	1 MJ net supplied heat
heat_generation	Heat generation and recovery	required	Within declared supply gate	foreground	1 MJ net supplied heat
heat_delivery	Metering and thermal delivery	required	Within declared supply gate	foreground	1 MJ net supplied heat

Each card has its own inclusion_condition. Absence requires an auditable not-applicable record, not an assumed zero. These processes form one foreground system; internal heat and water transfers are reconciled without becoming additional external purchases. Environmental heat extraction and recovered heat must be measured and declared as individual additional exchanges in relevant routes.

Process: Water conditioning and return accounting (water_management)

Inputs

Product flows

Tap water (makeup_water)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Purchased water enters the make-up circuit.

• Selected flow: Tap water d1e0e36c-07f0-4a75-bdcb-efb5d9e2ac36
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_material; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material
• Sources: doe-steam-boiler-water

Sodium hydroxide (alkali)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Sodium hydroxide is used in the declared water-treatment recipe.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide e0abcced-0611-4c24-9290-5a2c5a0c4169
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_material; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material
• Sources: doe-steam-boiler-water

Sodium sulfite (oxygen_scavenger)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Sodium sulfite is dosed for oxygen removal.

• Selected flow: Sodium sulfite 4fbdce66-c23d-4890-b16e-d53c39afa224
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_material; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material
• Sources: doe-steam-boiler-water

Outputs

Waste flows

Boiler blowdown wastewater (boiler_blowdown)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Boiler blowdown leaves for external treatment.

• Selected flow: Boiler blowdown wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_waste; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources: doe-steam-boiler-water

Process: Heat generation and recovery (heat_generation)

Inputs

Product flows

Alternating current (generation_power)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Electricity is imported for generation equipment, heaters or heat pumps.

• Selected flow: Alternating current a500e350-83b8-4347-894e-b81ecd418615
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_energy; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy
• Sources:

Pipeline-quality natural gas (gas_fuel)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Pipeline natural gas is burned.

• Selected flow: Pipeline-quality natural gas 7766e51e-0b64-4fbb-89cb-489c33293137
• Flow property / unit: Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-12da-a746-0800200c9a66 / m3
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_fuel; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_fuel
• Sources:

Bituminite (coal_fuel)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Bituminous coal is burned.

• Selected flow: Bituminite f10e7264-fc49-491a-a886-f717e3c7a437
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_fuel; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_fuel
• Sources:

heavy fuel oil (oil_fuel)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Heavy fuel oil is burned.

• Selected flow: heavy fuel oil 9490cf0e-a790-44a1-9c2f-3793bbdb452d
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_fuel; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_fuel
• Sources:

Wood chips (wood_fuel)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Wood chips are burned.

• Selected flow: Wood chips e0ccd0e1-9f75-4f2a-a9b9-5ebc8b3e5315
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_fuel; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_fuel
• Sources:

Heat from steam (imported_steam_heat)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Purchased steam supplies a heat exchanger; upstream generation is outside the foreground.

• Selected flow: Heat from steam cbc1f372-5c64-4ad5-a938-89b9396758c9
• Flow property / unit: Gross calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-14da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_heat; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat
• Sources:

Outputs

Product flows

Alternating current (chp_electricity)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): A CHP unit exports net electricity after its own electricity consumption.

• Selected flow: Alternating current a500e350-83b8-4347-894e-b81ecd418615
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_energy; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy
• Sources: epa-chp-efficiency

Waste flows

Coal combustion bottom ash (bottom_ash)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Coal bottom ash leaves for disposal; sale as a co-product requires separate classification and allocation.

• Selected flow: Coal combustion bottom ash
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_waste; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Carbon dioxide, fossil, to air (fossil_co2)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Fossil carbon is oxidized within the foreground.

• Selected flow: Carbon dioxide, fossil, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Carbon dioxide, biogenic, to air (biogenic_co2)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Biogenic carbon is oxidized within the foreground.

• Selected flow: Carbon dioxide, biogenic, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Nitrogen oxides, to air (nitrogen_oxides)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Combustion releases nitrogen oxides.

• Selected flow: Nitrogen oxides, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Sulfur dioxide, to air (sulfur_dioxide)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Fuel sulfur produces sulfur dioxide after any abatement.

• Selected flow: Sulfur dioxide, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Carbon monoxide, to air (carbon_monoxide)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Incomplete combustion releases carbon monoxide.

• Selected flow: Carbon monoxide, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres, to air (fine_particles)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Fine particles cross the stack or fugitive air boundary.

• Selected flow: Particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Methane, to air (methane_emission)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Methane leaks or incomplete combustion are present.

• Selected flow: Methane, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Dinitrogen monoxide, to air (nitrous_oxide)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Combustion releases nitrous oxide.

• Selected flow: Dinitrogen monoxide, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, to air (refrigerant_loss)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): The declared heat pump contains R134a and leaks; other refrigerants require separate atomic rows.

• Selected flow: 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_emissions; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Process: Metering and thermal delivery (heat_delivery)

Inputs

Product flows

Alternating current (delivery_power)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): Pumps or distribution equipment use purchased electricity.

• Selected flow: Alternating current a500e350-83b8-4347-894e-b81ecd418615
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: Collect the exchange amount using cp_energy; retain the unallocated total and provide the allocated amount per reference flow.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy
• Sources:

Outputs

Product flows

Heat from steam or hot water (supplied_heat)

Inclusion condition (inclusion_condition): One declared carrier and one supply gate define the dataset output.

• Selected flow: Heat from steam or hot water 8c96c869-cd82-4301-bb74-b2f9f61ce109
• Flow property / unit: Gross calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-14da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: 1 MJ
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat
• Sources:

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
allocation_separate	all processes	Assign separately metered equipment and delivery loads directly before allocating shared generation burdens.
allocation_chp	heat_generation	For indivisible CHP common burdens use a declared physical allocation consistent with the study method. Collect net exported electricity, useful heat by grade and common fuel use; document why energy, exergy or another causal model represents the coupled process. Do not silently impose equal-value energy allocation across different heat grades.	epa-chp-efficiency
allocation_recovery	imported_steam_heat	Recovered heat requires a stated upstream burden or cut-off agreement and linked source process. Avoided heat or electricity is a separate consequential comparison; never subtract it from attributional inventory without declaring system expansion.
allocation_losses	heat_delivery	Assign actual generation and network losses to heat delivered at the declared gate. Return condensate is internal recovery, not an automatic avoided-production credit.	doe-steam-boiler-water

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_heat	heat_delivery	thermal output and imported heat	meter and state records	carrier; gate; supplied and returned masses; pressure; temperatures; steam quality; supply and return enthalpy; net heat; make-up baseline enthalpy	Calibrated heat meter or thermodynamic integration; reconcile supplier heat meters and return-loop records	MJ	continuous with monthly reconciliation	same full declared operating period	declared heat supply gates	per reference flow	calibration; enthalpy method version; heat balance
cp_energy	heat_generation	electrical input and output	electricity meters	meter id; process; gross generation; own use; imported and exported electricity; kWh	Submeter heaters, auxiliaries and network pumps; reconcile purchases and CHP generation	MJ	continuous with monthly reconciliation	same full declared operating period	site and included network	per reference flow	meter calibration; bills; no gross-net double count
cp_fuel	heat_generation	individual fuel receipts and use	fuel stock and meter records	fuel identity; opening stock; receipts; closing stock; moisture; heating value; reference conditions	Reconcile meter or weighed receipts with stock change and supplier analyses for each fuel	kg or m3 as specified by row	each receipt and monthly balance	same full declared operating period	generation units inside foreground	per reference flow	weighing; meter correction; fuel certificates
cp_material	water_management	water and individual chemicals	meter and dosing records	make-up mass; return mass; chemical identity; delivered mass; concentration; stock change	Meter make-up separately from circulation; reconcile chemical dosing and purchase stocks	kg	continuous water and each chemical batch	same full declared operating period	water-conditioning system	per reference flow	calibration; dosing logs; recipe and assay
cp_waste	water_management	blowdown and ash leaving site	discharge and transfer records	waste identity; mass; moisture; destination; treatment; discharged water composition	Meter discharges; weigh ash shipments; keep treatment manifests; exclude internal circulation	kg	each transfer and monthly totals	same full declared operating period	external waste exits	per reference flow	discharge analyses; treatment and weighing records
cp_emissions	heat_generation	individual air emissions	stack tests; balances; leak logs	chemical identity; compartment; stack concentration and flow; hours; fuel carbon; biogenic fraction; refrigerant charge and replacement	Integrate species-specific monitoring; if estimated retain site activity, validated factor, method and uncertainty; retain refrigerant stock balance	kg	continuous where monitored; otherwise each test and monthly activity	same full declared operating period	direct stack and fugitive sources	per reference flow	test reports; factor original source; mass-balance closure

Protocol process_id identifies its lead process; cp_heat also covers imported_steam_heat, cp_energy also covers heat_delivery, and cp_waste also covers heat_generation. Preserve raw totals. After direct attribution and declared allocation, divide the applicable period total by net heat supplied in MJ to obtain the per-reference-flow exchange. Record supplied heat as exactly 1 MJ, not the period total. No cross-route numeric range is prescribed.

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
heat_integration	supplied_heat; imported_steam_heat	For each interval: supplied mass times supply specific enthalpy minus returned mass times return specific enthalpy minus net exported mass times baseline specific enthalpy; sum and divide by 1000 for kg and kJ/kg to yield MJ. Equal-mass closed loops reduce to mass times enthalpy difference; no-return steam uses the declared baseline.	cp_heat	net supplied heat in MJ
period_normalization	all inventory rows	Divide the attributed period exchange total by net supplied heat in MJ; supplied_heat is 1 MJ. Apply the documented allocation before division.	cp_heat; cp_energy; cp_fuel; cp_material; cp_waste; cp_emissions	exchange per reference flow
electric_conversion	generation_power; delivery_power; chp_electricity	Multiply recorded kWh by 3.6 to obtain MJ.	cp_energy	electrical energy in MJ

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
quality_period	all inventory rows	Use one consistent full operating period and preserve seasonal operation, outages and startup.	meter and production logs
quality_balance	foreground	Reconcile fuel, heat, water, stock and electricity balances; disclose residuals and measurement uncertainty without inventing a tolerance.	balance sheets and calibration
quality_state	supplied_heat	No interchangeability across unmatched carrier, temperature, pressure, enthalpy baseline or gate.	state and supply agreement
quality_emissions	heat_generation	Separate fossil and biogenic carbon; declare NOx reporting convention and particle size; estimates require traceable factors and local activity.	emission tests and site records
quality_completeness	all processes	Add actual atomic exchanges absent from the common inventory and document route-specific absences; identify all unverified identities and missing range evidence.	site flow diagram and source review

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
validate_reference	supplied_heat	Require exactly 1 MJ output, all required qualifiers and the same denominator for every inventory row and collection protocol.
validate_identity	all inventory rows	Check atomic exchange identity, flow type, product state, property, unit and public UUID support; an unresolved UUID remains explicit.
validate_balance	foreground	Check period balances, allocation sums, double counting of purchased heat, imported/exported electricity and recycled water; unexplained residuals require correction or disclosure.
validate_gate	heat_delivery	A consumer-gate dataset must contain actual delivery pumping and loss accounting, rather than assuming plant output equals delivered heat.	doe-steam-boiler-water
validate_evidence	all inventory rows	Do not replace site records with an unsupported industry range; missing quantitative evidence must remain a collection requirement.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	secondary_dataset; background_dataset
downstream_use	Qualified thermal-energy inputs in process and lifecyclemodel projections
allowed_use	Matching carrier, thermodynamic grade, gate, region and technology
excluded_use	Unqualified fuel substitution; cooling services; equipment production; automatic avoided-electricity claims
required_metadata	reference qualifiers; accounting period; boundary; flow identity; supplier links; allocation method; infrastructure assessment
required_quality_disclosure	measurement uncertainty; missing records; estimated emissions; unresolved identities; upstream coverage; range limitations
update_trigger	Fuel or technology change; revised gate or heat grade; network or return-loop change; new emissions measurement

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-3-structure	official_guidance	UNSD, Central Product Classification Version 3.0 Structure, 30 June 2025; https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv ; original rows 526-532; retrieved 2026-10-01	Product identity only
doe-steam-boiler-water	official_guidance	U.S. Department of Energy, Best Management Practice #8: Steam Boiler Systems; https://www.energy.gov/cmei/femp/best-management-practice-8-steam-boiler-systems ; Operations and Maintenance Options and Retrofit Options; retrieved 2026-10-01	Make-up metering, condensate recovery, blowdown and water-treatment collection
epa-chp-efficiency	official_guidance	U.S. EPA, Methods for Calculating CHP Efficiency; https://www.epa.gov/chp/methods-calculating-chp-efficiency ; Total System Efficiency; updated 13 February 2026; retrieved 2026-10-01	CHP net useful outputs and caution about equating electrical and thermal energy; no efficiency ranges adopted