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Integration of Renewable Energy Sources into Low-Temperature District Heating Systems: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ioan Sarbu

    (Department of Civil and Building Services Engineering, Polytechnic University Timisoara, Piata Victoriei, no 2A, 300006 Timisoara, Romania)

  • Matei Mirza

    (Department of Civil and Building Services Engineering, Polytechnic University Timisoara, Piata Victoriei, no 2A, 300006 Timisoara, Romania)

  • Daniel Muntean

    (Department of Civil and Building Services Engineering, Polytechnic University Timisoara, Piata Victoriei, no 2A, 300006 Timisoara, Romania)

Abstract

This article presents a complex and exhaustive review of the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) (specifically solar, geothermal, and hydraulic energies and heat pumps (HPs)) and the improvement of water pumping in district heating systems (DHSs) focused on low-temperature systems, to increase energy efficiency and environmental protection. For this aim, the main components of a DHS and the primary RES with applications in DHSs were described briefly. Finally, several case studies regarding the DHS in Timisoara, Romania, were analysed. Thus, by integrating water source HP (WSHP) systems in cooperation with solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) collectors and reducing the supply temperature from 110 °C to 30 °C in DHS, which supplies the water radiators to consumers in a district of this city in a 58/40 °C regime of temperatures and produces domestic hot water (DHW) required by consumers at 52 °C, a thermal energy saving of 75%, a reduction in heat losses on the transmission network of 90% and a diminution of CO 2 emissions of 77% were obtained. Installed PV panels generate 1160 MWh/year of electricity that is utilised to balance the electricity consumption of HP systems. Additionally, mounting pumps as turbines (PATs) for the recovery of excess hydraulic energy in the entire heating network resulted in electricity production of 378 MW, and the variable frequency drive’s (VFD) method for speed control for a heating station pump resulted in roughly 38% more energy savings than the throttle control valve technique.

Suggested Citation

  • Ioan Sarbu & Matei Mirza & Daniel Muntean, 2022. "Integration of Renewable Energy Sources into Low-Temperature District Heating Systems: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-28, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:18:p:6523-:d:908724
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Grzegorz Ostasz & Dominika Siwiec & Andrzej Pacana, 2022. "Model to Determine the Best Modifications of Products with Consideration Customers’ Expectations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Martina Capone & Elisa Guelpa & Vittorio Verda, 2023. "Optimal Installation of Heat Pumps in Large District Heating Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-23, February.

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