Author, as appears in the article.: Urbanucci L; Testi D; Bruno J

Department: Enginyeria Mecànica

e-ISSN: 2076-3417

URV's Author/s: Bruno Argilaguet, Juan Carlos

Keywords: Trigeneration Smart energy systems Reversible heat pumps Renewable energy Performance Optimization Optimal-design Operation Generation District heating and cooling

Abstract: © 2019 by the authors. District heating and cooling networks based on trigeneration systems and renewable energy technologies are widely acknowledged as an energy efficient and environmentally benign solution. These energy systems generally include back-up units, namely fossil-fuel boilers and electric chillers, to enhance system flexibility and cover peak energy demand. On the other hand, 4th generation district heating networks are characterized by low-temperature water distribution to improve energy and exergy efficiencies. Moreover, reversible heat pumps are a versatile technology, capable of providing both heating and cooling, alternately. In this paper, the integration of reversible heat pumps as single back-up units in hybrid renewable trigeneration systems serving low-energy micro-district heating and cooling networks is investigated. A detailed modeling of the system is provided, considering part-load and ambient condition effects on the performance of the units. Size and annual operation of the proposed system are optimized in a case study, namely a large office building located in Pisa (Italy), by means of a genetic algorithm-based procedure. A comparison with the conventional trigeneration system is performed in terms of economic and environmental perspectives. Results show that the integration of reversible heat pumps is an economically viable solution capable of reducing by 7% the equivalent annual cost, increasing the installed power of renewables up to 23%, and lowering by 11% carbon dioxide emissions, compared to the energy system with conventional back-up units.

Thematic Areas: Química Process chemistry and technology Physics, applied Materials science, multidisciplinary Materials science (miscellaneous) Materials science (all) Materiais Instrumentation General materials science General engineering Fluid flow and transfer processes Engineering, multidisciplinary Engineering (miscellaneous) Engineering (all) Engenharias ii Engenharias i Computer science applications Ciências biológicas iii Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i Ciências agrárias i Ciência de alimentos Chemistry, multidisciplinary Biodiversidade Astronomia / física

licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

ISSN: 20763417

Author's mail: juancarlos.bruno@urv.cat

Author identifier: 0000-0001-7448-5416

Record's date: 2023-02-18

Journal volume: 9

Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Link to the original source: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/15/3194

Licence document URL: http://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/

Papper original source: Applied Sciences-Basel. 9 (15):

APA: Urbanucci L; Testi D; Bruno J (2019). Integration of reversible heat pumps in trigeneration systems for low-temperature renewable district heating and cooling microgrids. Applied Sciences-Basel, 9(15), -. DOI: 10.3390/app9153194

Article's DOI: 10.3390/app9153194

Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Journal publication year: 2019

Publication Type: Journal Publications