Analysis of Different Strategies for Lowering the Operation Temperature in Existing District Heating Networks

Francesco Neirotti, Michel Noussan, Stefano Riverso and Giorgio Manganini
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Francesco Neirotti: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, c.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Michel Noussan: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, c.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Stefano Riverso: United Technologies Research Center, Penrose Wharf Business Centre, 4th floor, T23 XN53 Cork City, Ireland
Giorgio Manganini: United Technologies Research Center, Penrose Wharf Business Centre, 4th floor, T23 XN53 Cork City, Ireland

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: District heating systems have an important role in increasing the efficiency of the heating and cooling sector, especially when coupled to combined heat and power plants. However, in the transition towards decarbonization, current systems show some challenges for the integration of Renewable Energy Sources and Waste Heat. In particular, a crucial aspect is represented by the operating temperatures of the network. This paper analyzes two different approaches for the decrease of operation temperatures of existing networks, which are often supplying old buildings with a low degree of insulation. A simulation model was applied to some case studies to evaluate how a low-temperature operation of an existing district heating system performs compared to the standard operation, by considering two different approaches: (1) a different control strategy involving nighttime operation to avoid the morning peak demand; and (2) the partial insulation of the buildings to decrease operation temperatures without the need of modifying the heating system of the users. Different temperatures were considered to evaluate a threshold based on the characteristics of the buildings supplied by the network. The results highlight an interesting potential for optimization of existing systems by tuning the control strategies and performing some energy efficiency operation. The network temperature can be decreased with a continuous operation of the system, or with energy efficiency intervention in buildings, and distributed heat pumps used as integration could provide significant advantages. Each solution has its own limitations and critical parameters, which are discussed in detail.

Keywords: district heating; energy efficiency; optimization; heat pumps; low temperature networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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