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Assessing the Energy Performance of Solar Thermal Energy for Heat Production in Urban Areas: A Case Study

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  • Teodora Melania Șoimoșan

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Constantin Daicoviciu Street, No. 15, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Ligia Mihaela Moga

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Constantin Daicoviciu Street, No. 15, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Gelu Danku

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Constantin Daicoviciu Street, No. 15, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Aurica Căzilă

    (Faculty of Mechanics, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Boulevard of Muncii, No. 103-105, 400641 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Daniela Lucia Manea

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Constantin Daicoviciu Street, No. 15, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

One of the major challenges faced in the optimization process of existing heating systems is the harnessing and integration of a higher share of renewable energy. Centralized integration at the thermic source leads to high investment costs at the first investment stage, and low values of conversion, transport, and storage efficiencies, due to high levels of heat loss from large-capacity entropic systems. This research paper presents a case study on the partially decentralized integration of thermal solar fields that are used for heat production in crowded urban areas within the optimization process of the existing heating system in the city of Oradea, Romania. A deterministic method was used as the method for the calculation of heat demand, in both stationary—hourly heat demand and dynamic regimes—annual heat demand, and the simulations within the configuration and the optimization process of the hybrid heating systems were carried out. In the case study, four representative urban areas with different thermal densities were analyzed within two working scenarios, which took into account the energy performances of the buildings inside the studied areas before thermal retrofitting, and after a usual thermal retrofit.

Suggested Citation

  • Teodora Melania Șoimoșan & Ligia Mihaela Moga & Gelu Danku & Aurica Căzilă & Daniela Lucia Manea, 2019. "Assessing the Energy Performance of Solar Thermal Energy for Heat Production in Urban Areas: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:6:p:1088-:d:215902
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bo Shen & Moonis R. Ally, 2020. "Energy and Exergy Analysis of Low-Global Warming Potential Refrigerants as Replacement for R410A in Two-Speed Heat Pumps for Cold Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Teodora M. Șoimoșan & Ligia M. Moga & Livia Anastasiu & Daniela L. Manea & Aurica Căzilă & Čedomir Zeljković, 2021. "Overall Efficiency of On-Site Production and Storage of Solar Thermal Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Pavel Atănăsoae, 2020. "Technical and Economic Assessment of Micro-Cogeneration Systems for Residential Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Raluca-Andreea Felseghi & Elena Carcadea & Maria Simona Raboaca & Cătălin Nicolae TRUFIN & Constantin Filote, 2019. "Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology for the Sustainable Future of Stationary Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-28, December.

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