District Cooling Network Planning. A Case Study of Tallinn

Abstract

The planning procedure for district cooling as an urban system was presented and carried out using the example of the Tallinn city centre. The following steps were described in detail: cooling demand determination, cooling generation planning and cooling transition analysis. Based on the three proposed methods (average specific cooling load, satellite imagery analysis of a specific building, counting the number of fans in dry coolers and the combination method), the cooling capacity of the evaluated district was estimated at 63.2 MW. In terms of cooling generation, the analysis shows that seawater for free cooling can cover up to 55% of the annual cooling consumption. Electric chillers and absorption chillers that use surplus heat can cover the rest of the district cooling demand. The district cooling network was designed for three scenarios: with one generating unit, with two generating units and a looped network. Despite the fact that the looped network is the most expensive option, this type of solution is considered feasible as it will make it easier to connect new consumers.

Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Vol 38

“…In their work, the authors find feasible pathways for the decarbonisation of the heating and electricity sectors, while transportation remains more problematic. Volkova has previously presented work on mobile apps for district heating consumers in this journal [42] as well as research focusing more concretely on district heating case studies in Estonia [43,44]. The model energyPRO [45] has previously been applied by Trømborg to model electricity use in district heating plants [46], by Sneum to investigate flexible district heating [47], by Widzinski to analyse alternative heat production technologies for district heating system in Poland [48] and by Trabert [49] to analyse a river water-based heat pump for district heating in Germany.…”

Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environmental Systems and Smart Energy Systems

“…Volkova et al [10] set up an approach to assess district cooling and applied it to Tallinn as a case. Through an assessment of cooling demands, distribution grid requirements and heat cooling supply options, the authors devised a district cooling system.…”

Effects of Coupling Combined Heat and Power Production with District Cooling

“…The future of Tallinn's DC network was postulated and thoroughly examined in [34]. A comprehensive planning procedure was followed, beginning with an analysis of potential DC network locations, followed by an assessment of potential cooling needs and piping, and finally a suggestion of potential facilities for cooling production.…”

“…A comprehensive planning procedure was followed, beginning with an analysis of potential DC network locations, followed by an assessment of potential cooling needs and piping, and finally a suggestion of potential facilities for cooling production. The Mustamäe district was not evaluated in [34] because it is not located in the city centre and there may not be sufficient cooling demand for the district energy company. Nevertheless, this paper investigates the cooling demand in the Mustamäe district to determine whether it would be beneficial to couple the CHP plant with district cooling.…”

“…Nevertheless, this paper investigates the cooling demand in the Mustamäe district to determine whether it would be beneficial to couple the CHP plant with district cooling. As in [34], potential consumers were identified, and appropriate production facilities were recommended based on their cooling demand.…”