The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature Review
The development of sustainable and innovative solutions for the production and supply of energy at district level is nowadays one of the main technical challenges. In the past, district heating and cooling networks aimed to achieve greater energy efficiency through the centralization of the energy p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/236 |
| _version_ | 1828347884627558400 |
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| author | Marco Pellegrini Augusto Bianchini |
| author_facet | Marco Pellegrini Augusto Bianchini |
| author_sort | Marco Pellegrini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of sustainable and innovative solutions for the production and supply of energy at district level is nowadays one of the main technical challenges. In the past, district heating and cooling networks aimed to achieve greater energy efficiency through the centralization of the energy production process but with relevant losses related to heat transport. Moving towards a higher share of renewables and lower demand of primary energy requires redesign of the energy district networks. The novel concept of cold district heating networks aims to combine the advantages of a centralized energy distribution system with low heat losses in energy supply. This combined effect is achieved through the centralized supply of water at relatively low temperatures (in the range 10–25 °C), which is then heated up by decentralized heat pumps. Moreover, cold district heating networks are also very suitable for cooling delivery, since cold water supplying can be directly used for cooling purposes (i.e., free cooling) or to feed decentralized chillers with very high energy efficiency ratio. This paper provides a preliminary literature review of existing cold district heating networks and then qualitatively analyses benefits and drawbacks in comparison with the alternatives currently used to produce heat and cold at district level, including the evaluation of major barriers to its further development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:46:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c1afa970a5f480799f6ef58000ef0cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:46:42Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c1afa970a5f480799f6ef58000ef0cc2022-12-22T02:21:58ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-01-0111123610.3390/en11010236en11010236The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature ReviewMarco Pellegrini0Augusto Bianchini1Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), University of Bologna, Via Fontanelle 40, 47121 Forlì, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering (DIN), University of Bologna, Via Fontanelle 40, 47121 Forlì, ItalyThe development of sustainable and innovative solutions for the production and supply of energy at district level is nowadays one of the main technical challenges. In the past, district heating and cooling networks aimed to achieve greater energy efficiency through the centralization of the energy production process but with relevant losses related to heat transport. Moving towards a higher share of renewables and lower demand of primary energy requires redesign of the energy district networks. The novel concept of cold district heating networks aims to combine the advantages of a centralized energy distribution system with low heat losses in energy supply. This combined effect is achieved through the centralized supply of water at relatively low temperatures (in the range 10–25 °C), which is then heated up by decentralized heat pumps. Moreover, cold district heating networks are also very suitable for cooling delivery, since cold water supplying can be directly used for cooling purposes (i.e., free cooling) or to feed decentralized chillers with very high energy efficiency ratio. This paper provides a preliminary literature review of existing cold district heating networks and then qualitatively analyses benefits and drawbacks in comparison with the alternatives currently used to produce heat and cold at district level, including the evaluation of major barriers to its further development.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/236cold district heatingdistrict heating and coolingfree coolingdrawback-benefit analysis |
| spellingShingle | Marco Pellegrini Augusto Bianchini The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature Review Energies cold district heating district heating and cooling free cooling drawback-benefit analysis |
| title | The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature Review |
| title_full | The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature Review |
| title_short | The Innovative Concept of Cold District Heating Networks: A Literature Review |
| title_sort | innovative concept of cold district heating networks a literature review |
| topic | cold district heating district heating and cooling free cooling drawback-benefit analysis |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/236 |
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