District cooling during cogeneration

general characteristics

The organization of centralized cooling is another possible application of cogeneration. In this case, cogeneration provides for the production of electricity, which is supplied to distribution networks, and heat, which is used to drive absorption chillers. The cold is distributed in the form of chilled water supplied to consumers through a separate distribution network.

Centralized cooling can be organized in various ways depending on the time of year and the outdoor temperature. In winter, cold sea water (Fig.) Can be a source of cold, at least in northern countries. In the warm season, absorption technology can be used for cooling. Centrally produced cold can be used for air conditioning and cooling of office, commercial and residential premises.

Picture. The organization of centralized cooling in the winter based on free cooling with sea water

Picture. The organization of centralized cooling in the summer based on absorption cooling

Environmental benefits

Improving the eco-efficiency of the centralized heat supply system (CTC) and the centralized cold supply system (CHS) in Helsinki (Finland) contributed to the achievement of many sustainable development goals, as shown below:

• A significant reduction was achieved in greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful substances, in particular nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter;
• there was a reduction in electricity consumption and, in particular, peaks on hot days associated with the intensive work of cooling equipment at the level of individual houses;
• During the period from October to May, the CHS system operates exclusively at the expense of energy from renewable sources (cooling at the expense of sea water). This corresponds to 30% of the total amount of cold consumed per year;
• in the warm season, absorption refrigeration units operate due to waste heat of cogeneration systems, which otherwise would be diverted to the environment. Although this may lead to increased fuel consumption at cogeneration plants, the total fuel consumption (taking into account the energy production consumed by individual refrigeration systems at the house level) decreases;
• the harmful effects of cooling equipment at the house level, such as noise and vibration, were eliminated;
• areas in houses previously occupied by cooling equipment were released;
• the problem of the growth of microorganisms in condensers of cooling systems was solved;
• Unlike house systems, the operation of the system of a CSH is not associated with the use and leakage of harmful refrigerants (for example, CFCs and HCFCs);
• The CHS system helps to improve the aesthetics of the urban environment, since industrial buildings and pipelines are not visible. There is no need for large capacitors on the roofs or numerous small air conditioners in the windows or on the walls of buildings;
• The life cycle of PZTs and TSS systems is much longer than the equipment installed in individual houses, since the service life, for example, of a centralized cold production unit, is twice as high as that of home cooling equipment. The service life of trunk pipelines PZT and TSS is more than a century.

Impact on various environmental components

Impacts associated with the construction of a distribution system.

Production Information These systems are reliable.

Applicability

This method can be widely used, but its applicability depends on local conditions.

Economic aspects

Significant investments are needed in the creation of distribution networks.

District cooling in Moscow will turn the batteries into air conditioners

Moscow power engineers plan to use batteries in city apartments as ... air conditioners.

The centralized refrigeration of the power industry is proposed to be used in houses on the territory of the “new Moscow”, Skolkovo and Moscow-City, with the corresponding project at the end of last year, the management of OJSC “MOEK” spoke at one of the industry conferences.

Trigeneration in question involves the simultaneous production of three types of energy: electricity, heat energy and chilled water.

In winter, heat is supplied to the heating system to heat the apartments, and in the summer, ice water is cooled.

"The use of trigeneration makes it possible not only to optimize production costs, but also to offer Muscovites a new service - centralized cooling of premises during the summer period, which can be an alternative to electric air conditioning," clarify the Moscow energy sector. Centralized cooling will reduce the consumption of electrical energy for the needs of air conditioning. "The development of the trigeneration will make Moscow the fourth largest city in the world of centralized cold supply to consumers after Paris, Stockholm and Helsinki," says MOEK information materials.