Evaluation of energy and exergy losses in district heating network

In this paper, energy and exergy losses forming in the heat distribution network of district heating systems were evaluated. For this purpose, equations of energy and exergy losses were identified and by using them, heat distribution network of the university campus which has a heating network of pipes 11,988 m in length and 65–250 mm in diameter was analyzed. It was found that exergy losses forming during heat distribution were about 16% of total exergy in the system and temperature of hot water supplied and returning was found to be the most important factor affecting these exergy losses.