Abstract
The renovation of multi-storey residential buildings reduces heat consumption intensity and decreases heat demand, which may have a harmful effect on a district heating supply system. The paper analyses the heat loss change in four district heating distribution networks (DHNs) of Kaunas at the various scenarios of buildings and DHN renovation stages. A bundle of genetic algorithm software package was used to carry out the districts’ distribution network hydraulic calculations in the case of building renovation without changing the hydrodynamic and network routes. The experimental data were used to calculate heat loss for old and new pipes. The computer data of networks used to summarise the cost of DHN then for the renovation of buildings as well as for renovation progress will go evenly with DHN refurbishment. Network optimization results were summarised by functional dependence. The comparison of the projects’ efficiency was analysed in the following cases: the diameters of pipes of DHN were not changed, new diameters of pipes were integrated partly after partial residential buildings renovation and after a complete renovation of residential building and optimisation of pipeline diameters. The efficiency of separate guidelines of the DHN refurbishment project was summarised by performing sensitivity analysis.
Highlights
The intensive multi-storey residential building construction began in the twentieth century, in the 1970s, and lasted about for 30 years in the largest Lithuanian cities
Fuel was regarded as a cheap resource, and the focus on increasing investment for saving energy to improve the insulation of district heating distribution network (DHN) pipes or buildings was considered not rationale
The rising prices of fuel and, at the same time the price of heat, the consumption space heating for buildings needed during the cold period of the year over the past few decades marginally changed
Summary
The intensive multi-storey residential building construction began in the twentieth century, in the 1970s, and lasted about for 30 years in the largest Lithuanian cities. As fuel prices continued to rise from year to year, the expenses of heat supply have become unacceptably high for DHN consumers. In the heating season 2011Á2012, the renovated residential buildings’ space heating records show that the renovated apartments approximately consume about 50% less heat for space heating and hot tap water in buildings (Lithuanian District Heating Association 2012c). Considering this it can be said that if nothing is done for DHN renovation, the expenses to cover DHN heat losses will increase twice in case the fuel prices do not increase in the future. Several criteria were used to compare the monetary volume for the period of renovation of DHN: total cost of heat losses, expenses for hot-water pump power and investments in the DHN
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