Future energy systems will come with a 100% share of renewable energy and high integration of energy systems. District heating and cooling systems will be undeniable parts of the future energy systems, as they pave the bed for high-efficiency, low cost, and clean production. District heating systems may come into a wide range of designs in the future. Currently, most of the world’s district heating systems are based on the third generation design while everything in this framework is on the verge of a transition to the fourth generation. A large number of technologies for the future district heating systems has been proposed so far, among which low-, ultralow- and variable-temperature systems seem more of qualification. This study employs computational fluid dynamics to make a comprehensive examination of the compatibility of regular twin-pipes with various potential district heating schemes for future energy systems. The results show that both low- and ultralow-temperature systems could efficiently use regular twin-pipes commonly used in the third generation district heating systems, though the insulation of the pipe could be proportionally strengthened based on a techno-economic trade-off. In contrast, the results show that the thermal inertia of the pipe does not allow the variable-temperature district heating system to effectively operate when the transmission pipeline is longer than a limited length. Therefore, a regular heat distribution network may not be an appropriate host for a variable-temperature district heating scheme unless decentralized heat production units come into service.
Future district heating systems and technologies: On the role of smart energy systems and 4th generation district heating