Simulation and comparative assessment of heating systems with tank thermal energy storage – A Swiss case study. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Narula, Kapil; Filho, Fleury De Oliveira; Chambers, Jonathan; Patel, Martin K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of energy storage. Volume 32(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Heating systems -- Tank thermal energy storage (TTES) -- Decarbonisation -- Simulation -- Switzerland; ATES Aquifer thermal energy storage -- BTES Borehole thermal energy storage -- CCHP Combined cooling, heating and power -- CHP Combined heat and power -- CECB Cantonal Energy Certificate for Buildings -- CRF Capital recovery factor -- DH District heating -- DHW Domestic hot water -- EF Emission factor -- ETC Evacuated tube collector -- GHG Greenhouse gas -- HE Heat exchanger -- HP Heat pump -- IEA International Energy Agency -- MFH Multi-family household -- NDC Nationally determined contribution -- O&M Operation and maintenance -- PCM Phase change material -- PES Primary energy supply -- PTES Pit thermal energy storage -- PV Photovoltaic -- RES Renewable energy source -- SC Solar collector -- SCOP Seasonal coefficient of performance -- SH Space heating -- TES Thermal energy storage -- TTES Tank thermal energy storage -- WGTES Water gravel thermal energy storage -- WE Water equivalent; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Research -- Periodicals; 621.3126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2020.101810
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-152X

Abstract

Highlights: Undertakes simulation of hourly energy flows in different heating systems. Calculates and compares economic and environmental performance indicators. Assesses sensitivity of perfomance indicators to input parameters. Heat pumps have least cost of decarbonisation but cannot deliver zero emissions. Use of thermal storage can result in deep decarbonisation, albeit at a higher cost. Abstract: Heating consumes almost 50% of the global final energy consumption but only 10% of the heat supply is from renewable energy sources (RES). Rooftop solar collectors generate low temperature heat, which can be stored as sensible heat over many months. This can lower the use of oil boilers in winters, thereby playing an important part in decarbonisation. This paper examines the feasibility of using tank thermal energy storage (TTES) for decarbonising heating. It simulates hourly energy flows and compares different heating systems in 50 and 200 dwellings in multi-family households at Geneva, Switzerland. Hourly energy flows for four different heating systems configrations, viz. oil boiler, solar collector with TTES, solar collector with TTES & heat pump, and a system having only a centralised air-water heat pump are simulated. Various performance indicators such as levelised cost of heat, percentage share of RES, peak electricity load and cost of decarbonisation are evaluated. Sensitivity of perfomance indicators to head demand, heat supply and heating network temperature is examined. Results show that a heating system having only a centralised air-water heat pump is the best option, but CO2 emissions cannot be eliminated. On the other hand, in case of low heat demand (due to building renovation and lower heating network temperature in future), use of TTES with solar collectors could lead to a higher share of RES. Further, the peak electricity load is much lower and heating can be completely decarbonised. Thus, TTES has an important role to play in decarbonisation of heating, albeit at a higher cost.