Investigation of seasonal variations in the energy and exergy performance of the Gonen geothermal district heating system

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 36; pp. 39 - 50
• Main Authors: Yüksel, Bedri, Aslan, Asiye, Akyol, Tuğrul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2012
• Subjects: Computational efficiency; District heating; Energy analysis; Exergy; Exergy analysis; Geothermal; Geothermal energy; Mathematical analysis; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Winter; Energy analysis; Exergy analysis; Geothermal energy
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2011.12.003

In this paper, time-dependent changes in the energy and exergy performance of the Gonen geothermal district heating system (GDHS) due to seasonal differences in the energy requirement of the system are investigated. In this extend, over a one-year period the system is monitored by using fixed and portable measuring devices and all the data needed for the calculations are collected. Energy and exergy analysis of the system and its main components is carried out for winter, summer and transition seasons separately, considering the seasonal changes in the heating load of the system. The highest energy and exergy efficiencies of the overall Gonen GDHS are determined to be 45.78% and 50.45% in the transition seasons, respectively, while the lowest energy and exergy efficiencies are found to be 31.72% and 39.34% in the winter season, respectively. Besides, the annual average energy and exergy efficiencies are determined to be 41.07% and 45.86%, respectively. ► We monitor the Gonen geothermal district heating system for a one-year period. ► We examine seasonal changes in the energy and exergy efficiencies ( η sys, ε sys). ► The highest η sys and ε sys occur in transition season with 45.7% and 50.4%. ► The lowest η sys and ε sys occur in winter season with 31.7% and 39.3%.