Comparative analysis of energy efficiency for three heating and cooling supply schemes in a region with hot summers and cold winters in a chemical industrial park

• Published in: Energy Informatics 2024-12, Vol.7 (1), p.42-14, Article 42
• Main Authors: Jiang, Kewen, Zhang, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air conditioning; Boilers; Chemical; Cold; Comparative analysis; Computer Science; Cooling; Cooling systems; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Fluorine; Heat; Heat exchangers; Heat pumps; Heat sinks; Heating; Hot; Industrial parks; Industry; Information Systems and Communication Service; Liquid cooling; Rivers; Summer; Water heaters; Winter
• ISSN: 2520-8942; 2520-8942
• DOI: 10.1186/s42162-024-00343-1

Building energy consumption in China accounts for 45% of the total national energy consumption, with air conditioning energy consumption representing approximately two-thirds of that. Therefore, energy efficiency in buildings is of utmost importance. This study focuses on a chemical industrial park located along the Fujiang River and compares three heating and cooling supply schemes: the river water source heat pump system, which utilizes river water as the heat source and heat sink; the water cooling unit and boiler system, which uses water-cooled electric compression chillers for cooling and an oil-fired boiler system for heating; and the split air conditioning and gas water heater scheme, which relies on refrigerants such as fluorine-containing compounds for cooling and a gas water heater for heating. By calculating the energy consumption of the above three schemes and conducting a comparative analysis, it is found that the river water source heat pump system exhibits significantly higher energy efficiency throughout the year compared to the water cooling unit and boiler system and the split air conditioning and gas water heater scheme. This highlights the notable energy efficiency advantage of the river water source heat pump system.