Review
Thermodynamics
Elisa Guelpa, Vittorio Verda
Summary: This paper is the first survey on the use of demand side application in district heating networks, clarifying the terminology and implementation stages. Demand side management is considered as a great technique for district heating management, achieving benefits such as peak shaving, doubled load factor, and reduction of primary energy needs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Leonidas Zouloumis, Nikolaos Ploskas, Giorgos Panaras
Summary: This study investigates the flexibility of DHN substations by considering thermal mass, controlling strategies, and thermal comfort settings. It reveals that thermal comfort plays an important role in improving flexibility. By adjusting the comfort zone and implementing preheating strategies, the maximum power reduction can be increased, enhancing the real-time adaptivity of DHN decision support systems.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GRIDS & NETWORKS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Elisa Guelpa, Ludovica Marincioni
Summary: This study proposes a method to simulate the thermal behavior of buildings and substations connected to district heating networks, requiring only temperature, mass flow rate, and building volume data for model creation. The model's main strength lies in its applicability to a wide range of district heating systems with only basic data requirements, making it suitable for large networks with thousands of substations. Results indicate that the model can accurately simulate the effects of modifications in district heating system operations with average errors lower than 5%.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Costanza Saletti, Nathan Zimmerman, Mirko Morini, Konstantinos Kyprianidis, Agostino Gambarotta
Summary: District heating networks efficiently distribute thermal energy, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. A novel procedure has been proposed to develop a fast scale-free model for system optimization and control, based on limited data available at main substations.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ruud Egging-Bratseth, Hanne Kauko, Brage Rugstad Knudsen, Sara Angell Bakke, Amina Ettayebi, Ina Renate Haufe
Summary: Low-temperature district heating is a key technology for efficient urban heat supply, enabling the integration of waste heat and renewable heat sources. By optimizing operational flexibility through demand side management and seasonal storage, significant reductions in carbon emissions and operational costs can be achieved.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zachary E. Lee, K. Max Zhang
Summary: As the transition towards electrification of building space heating accelerates, it becomes crucial to understand the impacts of these new electrical loads on the grid for future energy resource planning. This study provides a scalable, data-driven approach to estimate regional electrical demand using real-world data from thousands of homes. The findings highlight the unintended consequences of smart thermostat control algorithms, which can increase winter peak heating demand and hinder the integration of renewable energy and electric heating. The methodology provided in this study can be used as an open-source toolkit for analyzing other regions worldwide.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Lavinia Marina Paola Ghilardi, Alessandro Francesco Castelli, Luca Moretti, Mirko Morini, Emanuele Martelli
Summary: The study focuses on optimizing thermal comfort management for buildings with a Multi Energy System by utilizing the heat capacity of buildings and increasing the operational flexibility of generators. Testing results demonstrate that small temperature fluctuations around the indoor temperature setpoint and optimizing water delivery temperature can reduce operating costs, while the load shift capability of buildings plays a significant role when thermal demand mismatches energy supply.
Article
Thermodynamics
Stanislav Chicherin, Aleksander Starikov, Andrey Zhuikov
Summary: The aim of this paper is to propose a method to make low temperature district heating (LTDH) more feasible by utilizing operational data. The total network cost, compared to traditional systems, increases by 28.4% using design data only. However, a new assessment shows that the cost to modernize the DH network is only 18.6 million EUR, with 12.9% savings. Operational data, including network and outdoor temperatures, flow rate, and pressure, leads to more accurate evaluation. Adjusting heat demands and supply/return temperatures closer to operational values brings positive effects, outweighing the negative impact of higher pressure drop.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Matteo Bilardo, Federico Sandrone, Guido Zanzottera, Enrico Fabrizio
Summary: The current sustainability challenges focus on community-level energy solutions, with fifth-generation district heating and cooling networks playing a key role in developing energy-efficient and low-carbon economies. These networks provide users with an active role, integrating renewable sources and reducing heat losses to enhance energy exchange and performance.
Article
Thermodynamics
Zhikai Liu, Huan Zhang, Yaran Wang, Yan Jiang, Zhihao He, Pengkun Zhou
Summary: The goal of this paper is to research the different operation control strategy of the pump, addressing simulation and identification problems. A novel adaptive double-Newton-iteration hydraulic calculation method and an identification algorithm are proposed. An optimal pressure control strategy is introduced to minimize the pump head. Simulation results show that implementing this strategy can save 9.0%-52.9% pumping energy compared to other strategies.
Article
Thermodynamics
Martina Capone, Elisa Guelpa, Vittorio Verda
Summary: This paper studies the impact of heat capacities on the thermal response of systems, presenting and comparing four different models. It concludes that the equivalent one-equation model is capable of producing accurate solutions in significantly reduced computational time. When applied to the Turin district heating network, this simplified model shows great potential for efficient and accurate results.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Francesco M. Solinas, Lorenzo Bottaccioli, Elisa Guelpa, Vittorio Verda, Edoardo Patti
Summary: This study addresses the peak-shaving problem in district heating technology by combining building thermal response monitoring, user adaptability modeling, and reinforcement learning algorithm, achieving better results in overall performances and convergence speed.
ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xiaolei Yuan, Behrang Vand, Kristian Martin, Juha Jokisalo, Yumin Liang, Risto Kosonen, Yiqun Pan
Summary: This study compared three approaches to reduce heating costs in an educational office building while maintaining thermal comfort. The decentralized control method achieved the highest cost savings (5%) by adjusting the heating set point, while both centralized control and peak demand limiting also showed potential for savings. Depending on the district heating provider, implementing peak demand limiting can achieve significant cost savings (up to 16.9%) with a slight sacrifice in thermal comfort. Overall, decentralized control and district heating-based demand limiting are effective strategies for reducing heating costs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Martina Capone, Elisa Guelpa, Vittorio Verda
Summary: This paper aims to demonstrate how the economic and environmental benefits of installing a large-scale heat pump in existing district heating systems vary in different scenarios. It presents an integrated methodology that includes a physical model of the district heating network and a detailed modeling of the heat pump, using exergy analysis to compare different positions and operating conditions. A specific control strategy for the mass-flow rate is also analyzed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Results applied to a real district heating network show that installing a 4 MWe heat pump can reduce CO2 emissions by almost 4% (over a total thermal load of about 305 MWt), but this effect can be significantly reduced if the heat pump is placed in non-optimal locations.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Pavel Ruseljuk, Kertu Lepiksaar, Andres Siirde, Anna Volkova
Summary: By optimizing the distribution of heat and electrical load in cogeneration units, the efficiency and overall economic benefits can be improved through demand-side management. Economic dispatch helps determine additional increases in electrical power and optimize the operation of district heating networks.
Article
Thermodynamics
Yong Cheng, Fukai Song, Lei Fu, Saishuai Dai, Zhiming Yuan, Atilla Incecik
Summary: This paper investigates the accessibility of wave energy absorption by a dual-pontoon floating breakwater integrated with hybrid-type wave energy converters (WECs) and proposes a hydraulic-pneumatic complementary energy extraction method. The performance of the system is validated through experiments and comparative analysis.
Article
Thermodynamics
Jing Gao, Chao Wang, Zhanwu Wang, Jin Lin, Runkai Zhang, Xin Wu, Guangyin Xu, Zhenfeng Wang
Summary: This study aims to establish a new integrated method for biomass cogeneration project site selection, with a focus on the application of the model in Henan Province. By integrating Geographic Information System and Multiple Criterion Decision Making methods, the study conducts site selection in two stages, providing a theoretical reference for the construction of biomass cogeneration projects.
Article
Thermodynamics
Mert Temiz, Ibrahim Dincer
Summary: The current study presents a hybrid small modular nuclear reactor and solar-based system for sustainable communities, integrating floating and bifacial photovoltaic arrays with a small modular reactor. The system efficiently generates power, hydrogen, ammonia, freshwater, and heat for residential, agricultural, and aquaculture facilities. Thermodynamic analysis shows high energy and exergy efficiencies, as well as large-scale ammonia production meeting the needs of metropolitan areas. The hybridization of nuclear and solar technologies offers advantages of reliability, environmental friendliness, and cost efficiency compared to renewable-alone and fossil-based systems.
Editorial Material
Thermodynamics
Wojciech Stanek, Wojciech Adamczyk
Article
Thermodynamics
Desheng Xu, Yanfeng Li, Tianmei Du, Hua Zhong, Youbo Huang, Lei Li, Xiangling Duanmu
Summary: This study investigates the optimization of hybrid mechanical-natural ventilation for smoke control in complex metro stations. The results show that atrium fires are more significantly impacted by outdoor temperature variations compared to concourse/platform fires. The gathered high-temperature smoke inside the atrium can reach up to 900 K under a 5 MW train fire energy release. The findings provide crucial engineering insights into integrating weather data and adaptable ventilation protocols for smoke prevention/mitigation.
Article
Thermodynamics
Da Guo, Heping Xie, Mingzhong Gao, Jianan Li, Zhiqiang He, Ling Chen, Cong Li, Le Zhao, Dingming Wang, Yiwei Zhang, Xin Fang, Guikang Liu, Zhongya Zhou, Lin Dai
Summary: This study proposes a new in-situ pressure-preserved coring tool and elaborates its pressure-preserving mechanism. The experimental and field test results demonstrate that this tool has a high pressure-preservation capability and can maintain a stable pressure in deep wells. This study provides a theoretical framework and design standards for the development of similar technologies.
Article
Thermodynamics
Aolin Lai, Qunwei Wang
Summary: This study assesses the impact of China's de-capacity policy on renewable energy development efficiency (REDE) using the Global-MSBM model and the difference-in-differences method. The findings indicate that the policy significantly enhances REDE, promoting technological advancements and marketization. Moreover, regions with stricter environmental regulations experience a higher impact.
Article
Thermodynamics
Mostafa Ghasemi, Hegazy Rezk
Summary: This study utilizes fuzzy modeling and optimization to enhance the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). By simulating and analyzing experimental data sets, the ideal parameter values for increasing power density, COD elimination, and coulombic efficiency were determined. The results demonstrate that the fuzzy model and optimization methods can significantly improve the performance of MFCs.
Article
Thermodynamics
Zhang Ruan, Lianzhong Huang, Kai Wang, Ranqi Ma, Zhongyi Wang, Rui Zhang, Haoyang Zhao, Cong Wang
Summary: This paper proposes a grey box model for fuel consumption prediction of wing-diesel hybrid vessels based on feature construction. By using both parallel and series grey box modeling methods and six machine learning algorithms, twelve combinations of prediction models are established. A feature construction method based on the aerodynamic performance of the wing and the energy relationship of the hybrid system is introduced. The best combination is obtained by considering the root mean square error, and it shows improved accuracy compared to the white box model. The proposed grey box model can accurately predict the daily fuel consumption of wing-diesel hybrid vessels, contributing to operational optimization and the greenization and decarbonization of the shipping industry.
Article
Thermodynamics
Huayi Chang, Nico Heerink, Junbiao Zhang, Ke He
Summary: This study examines the interaction between off-farm employment decisions between couples and household clean energy consumption in rural China, and finds that two-paycheck households are more likely to consume clean energy. The off-farm employment of women is a key factor driving household clean energy consumption to a higher level, with wage-employed wives having a stronger influence on these decisions than self-employed ones.
Article
Thermodynamics
Hanguan Wen, Xiufeng Liu, Ming Yang, Bo Lei, Xu Cheng, Zhe Chen
Summary: Demand-side management is crucial to smart energy systems. This paper proposes a data-driven approach to understand the relationship between energy consumption patterns and household characteristics for better DSM services. The proposed method uses a clustering algorithm to generate optimal customer groups for DSM and a deep learning model for training. The model can predict the possibility of DSM membership for a given household. The results demonstrate the usefulness of weekly energy consumption data and household socio-demographic information for distinguishing consumer groups and the potential for targeted DSM strategies.
Article
Thermodynamics
Xinglan Hou, Xiuping Zhong, Shuaishuai Nie, Yafei Wang, Guigang Tu, Yingrui Ma, Kunyan Liu, Chen Chen
Summary: This study explores the feasibility of utilizing a multi-level horizontal branch well heat recovery system in the Qiabuqia geothermal field. The research systematically investigates the effects of various engineering parameters on production temperature, establishes mathematical models to describe their relationships, and evaluates the economic viability of the system. The findings demonstrate the significant economic feasibility of the multi-level branch well system.
Article
Thermodynamics
Longxin Zhang, Songtao Wang, Site Hu
Summary: This investigation reveals the influence of tip leakage flow on the modern transonic rotor and finds that the increase of tip clearance size leads to a decline in rotor performance. However, an optimal tip clearance size can extend the rotor's stall margin.
Article
Thermodynamics
Kristian Gjoka, Behzad Rismanchi, Robert H. Crawford
Summary: This paper proposes a framework for assessing the performance of 5GDHC systems and demonstrates it through a case study in a university campus in Melbourne, Australia. The results show that 5GDHC systems are a cost-effective and environmentally viable solution in mild climates, and their successful implementation in Australia can create new market opportunities and potential adoption in other countries with similar climatic conditions.
Article
Thermodynamics
Jianwei Li, Guotai Wang, Panpan Yang, Yongshuang Wen, Leian Zhang, Rujun Song, Chengwei Hou
Summary: This study proposes an orientation-adaptive electromagnetic energy harvester by introducing a rotatable bluff body, which allows for self-regulation to cater for changing wind flow direction. Experimental results show that the output power of the energy harvester can be greatly enhanced with increased rotatory inertia of the rotating bluff body, providing a promising solution for harnessing wind-induced vibration energy.