Innovative Energy Systems: Thermodynamics, Energy Storage, Performance Assessment and Optimization

A special issue of Designs (ISSN 2411-9660). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy System Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2027 | Viewed by 522

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, 15772 Athens, Greece
Interests: solar energy; power cycles; multigeneration; energy storage; energy systems design; industrial waste heat recovery; heat pumps
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition toward sustainable and efficient energy systems is one of the most critical challenges of modern society. Innovative energy systems play a key role in improving energy efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, and supporting the integration of renewable energy sources into industrial, building, and power generation sectors. This Special Issue focuses not only on recent advances in thermodynamic analysis, energy storage technologies, performance assessment methods, and optimization techniques, but also on the design concepts, system architectures, and operational strategies that enable the practical implementation of advanced energy systems.

The Special Issue aims to bring together high-quality research on the design, modeling, analysis, optimization, and operation of innovative energy systems, including high-temperature heat pumps, organic Rankine cycles, multigeneration installations, thermal energy storage systems, hydrogen energy systems, and hybrid renewable energy systems. Particular emphasis is placed on system design methodologies, component integration, and decision-making strategies for system operation, supported by thermodynamic performance analysis. Contributions addressing novel working fluids, system efficiency improvement, operational flexibility, as well as the integration of artificial intelligence, data-driven methodologies, and advanced control strategies are especially encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, conceptual and detailed system design, thermodynamic modeling and simulation, multi-objective optimization, performance assessment and efficiency improvement, techno-economic analysis, and design-oriented optimization frameworks. Additional topics include thermal and electrical energy storage technologies, renewable energy integration, smart operational strategies, and sustainable energy solutions for buildings and industrial applications. This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers and engineers to present innovative methodologies, technologies, and design and operational approaches that contribute to the development of efficient, sustainable, and optimized energy systems for future energy infrastructures.

Dr. Panagiotis Lykas
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • thermodynamic analysis
  • thermodynamic cycles
  • power cycles
  • heat pumps
  • renewables
  • energy storage
  • energy sys-tems
  • assessment
  • optimization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

36 pages, 14468 KB  
Article
Multi-Criteria Design of Industrial Process Heat Solutions, Including Concentrating Solar Thermal Collectors, High Temperature Heat Pumps, and Boilers
by Dimitra Gonidaki, Panagiotis Lykas, Christos Sammoutos, Angeliki Kitsopoulou, Konstantinos Polychronakis, Georgios Mitsopoulos, Christos Tzivanidis and Evangelos Bellos
Designs 2026, 10(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs10030062 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 310
Abstract
Industrial heat demand is a major source of CO2 emissions, making the decarbonization of this sector essential for achieving sustainability. This study explores and compares different methods for supplying useful heat to the industrial sector through a multi-criteria approach that considers technical [...] Read more.
Industrial heat demand is a major source of CO2 emissions, making the decarbonization of this sector essential for achieving sustainability. This study explores and compares different methods for supplying useful heat to the industrial sector through a multi-criteria approach that considers technical performance, economic viability, and environmental impact. Both conventional and alternative systems are examined, aiming to develop sustainable designs. These include solar-based systems using parabolic trough collectors, supported by either electric heaters or natural gas boilers. In addition, a high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) utilizing waste heat is analyzed, also combined with either electric heaters or gas boilers as backup. For reference, a conventional natural gas boiler system is included as a baseline case. In total, five scenarios are evaluated for applications in the chemical industry. Each scenario is assessed in terms of energy and exergy efficiency, cost, and CO2 emissions. A multi-criteria analysis is then applied to determine the most sustainable option under varying electricity and waste heat price conditions. The results indicate that the configuration combining a high-temperature heat pump with electric heaters (Scenario 3) achieves the highest performance, with energy and exergy efficiencies of 0.952 and 0.666, respectively. The lowest CO2 emissions are observed in the case of using solar collectors with electric heaters (Scenario 1), reaching 4154 tons per year. From an economic perspective, Scenario 3 emerges as the most favorable option at lower electricity prices (0.10 €/kWh), with a levelized cost of heating (LCOH) of 0.0555 €/kWh. At higher electricity prices, the optimal design shifts to Scenario 2, which combines solar collectors with a natural gas boiler, resulting in an LCOH of 0.0603 €/kWh. Full article
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