Comparing strategies for improving thermal performance of an existing district heating (DH) network: low temperature DH in Omsk, Russia

Abstract

In Russia district heating (DH) systems are characterized by the high wear-out rate of key facilities, particularly energy distribution networks and plants, the inadequate reliability of operation, significant heat losses, and the polluting impact on the environment. The objective of this paper is to indicate the feasibility and advantage of the renovation on a traditional high-temperature DH network. All the calculations are performed in Zulu©, Russian commercial software for simulation of a district energy system’s behavior. Reference operational data for the DH system was obtained from database established by the local heat supply company in the form of Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet file. The second idea (Case-2) envisages installing a heat pump and increasing the supply temperature in peak load periods during the heating season to limit a size of a heat pump. Case-3 and -4 are related to installing in-room terminal units and operating the system ‘as is’ respectively. Terminal units include consoles, fan-coils, blower coils, furnaces, chimneys, and radiant panels. The fifth option introduces low temperature district heating (LTDH) concept representing a paradigm shift in DH development and features a low supply temperature and smart control. When designing all errors should be less than local regulations allowable for each object. Presented research revealed that the issue of modernisation in Omsk, Russia cannot be easily and clear resolved. The future state-determination of results of DH network retrofitting is innovatively proposed in this paper.

Specifying DHW heat demand profiles according to operational data: enhancing quality of a DH system model

“…3b. The reasons are the shabby quality of constructions of DH networks applied earlier, thermal insulation, valves, rickety level of automatic control processes of transmission, distribution and malfunction at a substation [9]. Fig.…”

“…If the temperature is lower, there is a risk of exposure to Legionella in DHW systems [8]. In Russia, main funds allocated for the DH system modernization are spent on pipelines repair since a DH network is the most vulnerable element of a system [9]. Shabby condition of a distribution system may even limit maximum supply temperature and make a DH system unacceptable for operating according to design temperature curve (e.g.…”

The Impact of the Future Fluctuating Energy Consumption on a District Heating System: Case Study of Omsk and Krasnoyarsk Cities

“…The same with Wu et al [8], the energy produced from CHP units covers more than 50 % of the entire system thermal load. The data used in this paper have been elicited from the monitoring system of the DH plants, and then combined with some recent research attempts [37]. In this case study, energy consumption and demands are referred to the buildings consuming energy for space heating and DHW, requested from January 1 st , 2017 to December 31 st , 2020.…”