Thermoeconomic approach for the analysis of low temperature district heating systems

In this paper a thermoeconomic analysis of district heating systems is performed. The analysis aims at comparing possible options to supply heat to the users, using low temperature networks. Thermoeconomic analysis consists a powerful tool to perform such analysis as it allows one to evaluate the possible options in terms of primary energy cost or economic costs. In the first case, the use of exergy as the quantity that is transported along the network makes it possible to properly consider the various qualities of energy that are used to supply heat to the network and to distribute it to the users. In the case of economic cost, the various cost contributions are considered: investment cost, cost of heat supplied to the network, pumping cost. A different cost can be calculated for the various users depending on their position and characteristics of the heating devices. This is a useful information in order to compare possible options for supply them heat.