Article
Thermodynamics
Yacob Gebreyohannes Hiben, Mulu Bayray, Johan Lauwaert
Summary: Integrating solar thermal collectors into industrial processes can achieve economic and environmental goals by replacing conventional fuels. A TRNSYS-based dynamic statistical optimization model was developed to evaluate FPC-based solar-assisted heating systems for MOHA soft drinks and Sheba leather factories in Ethiopia. The optimized designs resulted in significant cost savings, high solar fractions, and a good margin on temperature trends.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Tao Li, Qingxia Liu, Lamei Liu, Yang Li, Junyong Yu, Xing Wang, Qianjun Mao
Summary: To reduce domestic gas consumption in Wuhan, two solar auxiliary gas-fired boiler heating systems formed in parallel and series are proposed and explore the feasibility of coupled heating system retrofit. The simulation models show that the indoor thermal environment is good and the temperature of the tank is stable in both systems. The parallel system achieves a solar fraction of 24.40%, indicating better energy saving. The optimization analysis suggests that the system has the best economy with a collector area ratio of 10.0% and a collector area to tank volume ratio of 8/0.7. The solar-assisted parallel heating system retrofit can save 2.02 x 104 MJ over the entire life cycle with a payback period of 4.75 years. These research results provide a basis and new ideas for heating retrofit in the HSCW zone.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Zhichen Wei, John Calautit
Summary: With the increasing energy prices and growing concerns over energy security, an accelerated transition to net zero carbon built environment has become more important. Advanced control strategies such as model predictive control (MPC) have been shown to achieve energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and maximize renewable energy production in buildings. This study investigates the potential of integrating price-responsive MPC with a low-temperature heating system and passive structural thermal energy storage (STES), and explores integration with a photovoltaic (PV) system. The results show that this integrated system can achieve higher load shifting ability and lower energy usage under future climate conditions.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yuanyuan Li, Gary Rosengarten, Cameron Stanley, Ahmad Mojiri
Summary: Due to time constraints to meet emissions reduction targets, electric heating is the fastest way to decarbonize buildings. However, the high power demand of these heating devices poses challenges to the electricity supply chain. Cheap and safe thermal storage can provide a viable solution. A proposed multi-function thermal system combining solar PV, heat pump, and thermal storage can effectively reduce a building's grid-electricity demand and increase its solar self-consumption.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Arseniy Sleptsov, Emanuele Crisostomi, Aldo Bischi
Summary: Two alternative controller schemes have been introduced to improve energy savings and power peak shaving by monitoring indoor temperature and adjusting mass flow rates. Simulation studies demonstrate that the new controllers' configurations enable flexible maintenance of indoor temperature, enhancing integration of buildings into modern district heating systems.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Xuemei Zhang, Leihong Guo, Jianlin Ren, Xiangfei Kong
Summary: A new mid-temperature phase change material was prepared in this study, and expanded graphite was added to reduce supercooling and enhance thermal conductivity. Experimental results showed that the material had low supercooling, high thermal conductivity, and low corrosion rate to common metal materials. The use of this material in solar heating systems can significantly save energy.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Erich Ryan, Benjamin McDaniel, Dragoljub Kosanovic
Summary: This study investigates the use of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) to reduce the peak daily demand of ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems and improve their cost effectiveness. The addition of TES can reduce operating costs by 4.5%, but still incurs a 5.64% increase in costs compared to a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system. However, integrating heat pumps tactically into the CHP system is the most cost effective solution, only increasing operating costs by 4.71%.
Article
Thermodynamics
Stanislav Chicherin, Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam
Summary: This study investigates variations and peak values of actual heat demand profiles in a centralized district heating network. It reveals that there is almost no weather correlation during warm months with supply temperatures exceeding 60 degrees C, and that thermal inertia of buildings affects their behavior differently in terms of needed space heating. By using precise heat demand data to design thermal energy storage units or district heating plants, DH operators can reduce energy prices and save energy fees for end-users by implementing weighted moving average strategies and advanced control techniques.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhihua Wang, Yujia Zhang, Fenghao Wang, Guichen Li, Kaiwen Xu
Summary: This study focuses on addressing the issues encountered by CO2 air source heat pumps in space heating, by designing a heating system combined with thermal energy storage, optimizing its performance and analyzing its economy. The results show that the optimized system has increased costs but reduced annual operating costs, and improved the COP of the system by 7.4%.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rui Ma, Jianfeng Li, Fei Jin, Ying Cao, Xinyu Zhao
Summary: This paper proposes a multi-energy complementary solar thermal supplementary heating system controlled by fuzzy controller to solve the problems of insufficient heating heat and high energy consumption in solar thermal systems and soil source heat pump systems. Simulation results show that the system improves the performance coefficient and reduces energy consumption compared to the traditional control system. It also effectively maintains the long-term balance of soil temperature, enabling efficient and long-lasting operation of the heating system.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Luyi Xu, Fang Guo, Pieter-Jan Hoes, Xudong Yang, Jan L. M. Hensen
Summary: This paper presents a modeling and simulation method to support the energy performance assessment and operation strategy investigation of borehole thermal energy storage in the Chifeng district heating system. Through a living laboratory in Chifeng, China, with a integrated system, the research adopts Modelica models to evaluate the system and found that the time-scheduled combined operation strategy is more beneficial for reducing CO2 emissions.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Martin Andersen, Chris Bales, Jan-Olof Dalenback
Summary: One challenge in today's district heating systems is the high distribution heat loss. Lowering distribution temperatures and changing the distribution system can reduce operational and investment costs, improving the overall life cycle cost competitiveness of district heating systems.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xingjiang Liu, Chao Shen, Julian Wang
Summary: This paper investigates the thermal effects of tubular day lighting devices (TDDs) and proposes a lighting-heating coupled TDDs system with ATO nanofluids to improve energy savings and sustainability in buildings. The results show that TDDs with 100 ppm ATO nanofluids can absorb 50% solar radiation and provide efficient lighting, generating over 10 tons of domestic hot water and saving 30.9 kWh of electricity for refrigeration in a case study.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Oussama Hachchadi, Daniel R. Rousse, Misagh Irandoostshahrestani, Abdellah Mechaqrane
Summary: This research compares the performance of photovoltaic solar water heater, flat-plate solar water heater, and evacuated tube solar water heater, analyzing their energy, economic, and environmental performances. The results show that despite the low thermal efficiency, the photovoltaic solar water heater is more efficient from a techno-economic perspective. However, it has a higher environmental impact compared to the other two solar water heaters.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Huseyin Gunhan Ozcan, Szabolcs Varga, Huseyin Gunerhan, Arif Hepbasli
Summary: This study investigates the energy and economic performance of a solar PV powered air conditioning unit with a battery system under different climatic conditions and operational characteristics. The results show that climatic conditions and operational characteristics significantly affect the energy performance indicators, while the economic analysis reveals varying economic relationships for different components under different climates.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Samiran Khorat, Debashish Das, Rupali Khatun, Sk Mohammad Aziz, Prashant Anand, Ansar Khan, Mattheos Santamouris, Dev Niyogi
Summary: Cool roofs can effectively mitigate heatwave-induced excess heat and enhance thermal comfort in urban areas. Implementing cool roofs can significantly improve urban meteorology and thermal comfort, reducing energy flux and heat stress.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qi Li, Jiayu Chen, Xiaowei Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the vertical wind conditions as a main external factor that limits the energy assessment of high-rise buildings in urban areas. Traditional tools for energy assessment of buildings use a universal vertical wind profile estimation, without taking into account the unique wind speed in each direction induced by the various shapes and configurations of buildings in cities. To address this limitation, the study developed an omnidirectional urban vertical wind speed estimation method using direction-dependent building morphologies and machine learning algorithms.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xiaojun Luo, Lamine Mahdjoubi
Summary: This paper presents an integrated blockchain and machine learning-based energy management framework for multiple forms of energy allocation and transmission among multiple domestic buildings. Machine learning is used to predict energy generation and consumption patterns, and the proposed framework establishes optimal and automated energy allocation through peer-to-peer energy transactions. The approach contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhances environmental sustainability.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ying Yu, Yuanwei Xiao, Jinshuai Chou, Xingyu Wang, Liu Yang
Summary: This study proposes a dual-layer optimization design method to maximize the energy sharing potential, enhance collaborative benefits, and reduce the storage capacity of building clusters. Case studies show that the proposed design significantly improves the performance of building clusters, reduces energy storage capacity, and shortens the payback period.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Felix Langner, Weimin Wang, Moritz Frahm, Veit Hagenmeyer
Summary: This paper compares two main approaches to consider uncertainties in model predictive control (MPC) for buildings: robust and stochastic MPC. The results show that compared to a deterministic MPC, the robust MPC increases the electricity cost while providing complete temperature constraint satisfaction, while the stochastic MPC slightly increases the electricity cost but fulfills the thermal comfort requirements.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Somil Yadav, Caroline Hachem-Vermette
Summary: This study proposes a mathematical model to evaluate the performance of a Double Skin Facade (DSF) system and its impact on indoor conditions. The model considers various design parameters and analyzes their effects on the system's electrical output and room temperature.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruijun Chen, Holly Samuelson, Yukai Zou, Xianghan Zheng, Yifan Cao
Summary: This research introduces an innovative resilient design framework that optimizes building performance by considering a holistic life cycle perspective and accounting for climate projection uncertainties. The study finds that future climate scenarios significantly impact building life cycle performance, with wall U-value, windows U-value, and wall density being major factors. By using ensemble learning and optimization algorithms, predictions for carbon emissions, cost, and indoor discomfort hours can be made, and the best resilient design scheme can be selected. Applying this framework leads to significant improvements in building life cycle performance.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)