Implementation of a simulating code for heating and cooling networks for residential, commercial and tertiary buildings

In the present energy scenario in which efficiency and sustainability will take the primary role in the decision making process it becomes more and more important to dispose of reliable simulating codes which allow to highlight the pros and cons of a given energy installation. New and old (forgotten) technologies are nowadays challenging the traditional technologies in different sectors of energy transformation from power generation down to heating and air conditioning. In the present situation of fuel cost oscillations and with the perspective of long-term scarcity of fuels, new, less energy demanding systems must be employed to maintain the actual comfort level. The present work aims at creating a reliable tool for correct evaluation of energy performance of heating and cooling networks. A code has been implemented in Simulink environment to simulate the network behaviour in summer and winter weather condition and to evaluate the primary energy indexes for comparison with the traditional configuration of a distributed heating and cooling plants common in residential, commercial and tertiary sectors. The code has been validated and the results will show the energy, economic and environment feasibility and convenience of one solution with respect to another for different climatic regions in Italy.