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What does a well-functioning heating system look like? Investigation of ten Danish buildings that utilize district heating efficiently

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  • Østergaard, Dorte Skaarup
  • Tunzi, Michele
  • Svendsen, Svend

Abstract

In order to reach targeted 4th generation district heating temperatures around 55 °C supply and 25 °C return, it is necessary to ensure that heating installations inside buildings are designed and operated properly. In this study we investigated the best-case of current design and operation of building installations with the aim of identifying whether there is a gap between current best-case examples and future temperature targets. The study included 7 single-family dwellings and 3 apartment buildings, that were selected based on their low district heating return temperature. Data from the building substations showed that single-family dwellings obtained return temperatures in the range from 25 to 30 °C while the apartment buildings had return temperatures in the range of 30–40 °C. This indicates that there is a gap between the best functioning heating installations in apartment buildings today, and the targeted district heating return temperatures of 25–30 °C in future 4th generation district heating networks. District heating return temperatures in the range of 30–40 °C could however be the initial ambition for the existing buildings all around Europe that are expected to be connected to new district heating systems in the near future.

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  • Østergaard, Dorte Skaarup & Tunzi, Michele & Svendsen, Svend, 2021. "What does a well-functioning heating system look like? Investigation of ten Danish buildings that utilize district heating efficiently," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:227:y:2021:i:c:s0360544221004990
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.120250
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    2. Benakopoulos, Theofanis & Tunzi, Michele & Salenbien, Robbe & Svendsen, Svend, 2021. "Strategy for low-temperature operation of radiator systems using data from existing digital heat cost allocators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    3. Madurai Elavarasan, Rajvikram & Pugazhendhi, Rishi & Irfan, Muhammad & Mihet-Popa, Lucian & Khan, Irfan Ahmad & Campana, Pietro Elia, 2022. "State-of-the-art sustainable approaches for deeper decarbonization in Europe – An endowment to climate neutral vision," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    4. Liu, Zhikai & Zhang, Huang & Wang, Yaran & Fan, Xianwang & You, Shijun & Li, Ang, 2023. "Data-driven predictive model for feedback control of supply temperature in buildings with radiator heating system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    5. Tunzi, Michele & Benakopoulos, Theofanis & Yang, Qinjiang & Svendsen, Svend, 2023. "Demand side digitalisation: A methodology using heat cost allocators and energy meters to secure low-temperature operations in existing buildings connected to district heating networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    6. Ozoliņa, Signe Allena & Pakere, Ieva & Jaunzems, Dzintars & Blumberga, Andra & Grāvelsiņš, Armands & Dubrovskis, Dagnis & Daģis, Salvis, 2022. "Can energy sector reach carbon neutrality with biomass limitations?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).

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