Abstract
Nowadays conventional district heating and cooling (DHC) systems face the challenge of reducing fossil fuel dependency while maintaining profitability. To address these issues, this study examines the possibility of retrofitting DHC systems with refuse-derived fuel (RDF) gasifiers and gas upgrading equipment. A novel system is proposed based on the modification of an existing DHC system. Thermodynamic and economic models were established to allow for a parametric analysis of key parameters. The study revealed that such an upgrade is both feasible and economically viable. In the basic scenario, the retrofitted DHC system can simultaneously produce 60.3 GWh/year of heat, 65.1 GWh/year of cold, 33.2 GWh/year of electricity and 789.5 tons/year of synthetic natural gas. A significant part of the heat load can be generated from the waste heat of the upgrading equipment. The investment in retrofitting the polygeneration DHC system presents a payback period of 3 years.
Highlights
District heating and cooling (DHC) systems consist of three main units: a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, chillers for cold production, and a thermal energy distribution network for customers
Despite the relatively high share of renewable resources currently already integrated in CHP units, district heating and cooling (DHC) systems still need to lessen their dependence on fossil fuels [1]
The discounted NCF value declines significantly with the discount rate increase—94.7 million USD for i = 12%. This manuscript examines the possibility of retrofitting a district heating and cooling (DHC)
Summary
District heating and cooling (DHC) systems consist of three main units: a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, chillers for cold production, and a thermal energy distribution network for customers. Nowadays traditional DHC systems have to address two principal challenges. Despite the relatively high share of renewable resources currently already integrated in CHP units, DHC systems still need to lessen their dependence on fossil fuels [1]. The profitability of the operation of these systems needs to be enhanced. The latter depends significantly of the fluctuations in electricity prices and heating and cooling demand profiles. An alternative solution for these problems altogether might be the upgrading of traditional
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