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Novel Approaches in Waste Heat Recovery for District Heating Integration

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A: Sustainable Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 430

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department for Renewable Energy, Climate and Environmental Protection, Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: cogeneration energy systems; renewable energy technologies; energy modeling; feasibility studies
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to contribute to a Special Issue of Energies, “Novel Approaches in Waste Heat Recovery for District Heating Integration”, focusing on the innovative use of waste heat in district heating systems. This Special issue emphasizes the potential of waste heat to improve energy efficiency and sustainability, particularly as urban areas strive to reduce carbon emissions and optimize energy consumption. Integrating waste heat into district heating networks has emerged as a promising solution to these challenges.

This Special Issue will explore advanced technologies and methodologies for capturing and repurposing waste heat from various sources, such as industrial processes, data centers, and commercial buildings. Key topics include the development of low-temperature district heating systems, the role of heat pumps in enhancing waste heat quality, and the economic and environmental advantages of these approaches. Contributions on other related topics are also encouraged.

We aim to present a comprehensive collection of research articles, reviews, and case studies that provide significant insights into the practical implementation and future potential of waste heat recovery in district heating. Contributions should emphasize optimizing system integration, enhancing thermal storage capabilities, and leveraging local renewable energy sources to maximize the benefits of waste heat recovery.

Additionally, this issue will address the challenges and opportunities related to policy frameworks, financial incentives, and regulatory measures that support the adoption of waste heat recovery technologies. It will also examine the role of digitalization and smart grid technologies in improving the efficiency and reliability of district heating systems.

We invite you to explore these novel approaches and contribute to the ongoing development of sustainable energy solutions. Through this collective effort, we aspire to advance the understanding and application of waste heat recovery technologies, ultimately contributing to a greener and more energy-efficient future.

Dr. Hrvoje Dorotić
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • waste heat recovery
  • energy efficiency
  • district heating systems
  • heat pumps
  • thermal storage
  • sustainability

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

33 pages, 30964 KB  
Article
Experimental Assessment of a Passive Waste Heat Recovery System Using Thermosyphons and Thermoelectric Generators for Integration into District Heating Applications
by Luis V. G. Fachini, Pedro Leineker Ochoski Machado, Kamal A. R. Ismail, Felipe M. Biglia, Aleffe J. C. Vaz, Romeu M. Szmoski and Thiago Antonini Alves
Energies 2025, 18(19), 5090; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195090 - 25 Sep 2025
Abstract
The efficient recovery of waste heat is essential for improving sustainability in industrial and urban energy systems. This study presents the experimental evaluation of a passive heat recovery unit composed of finned thermosyphons and Bismuth Telluride (Bi2Te3) thermoelectric generators [...] Read more.
The efficient recovery of waste heat is essential for improving sustainability in industrial and urban energy systems. This study presents the experimental evaluation of a passive heat recovery unit composed of finned thermosyphons and Bismuth Telluride (Bi2Te3) thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The primary objective was to characterize its simultaneous thermal recovery and electrical generation capabilities under airflow and temperature conditions simulating low-grade industrial exhaust streams. The system was tested in an open-loop wind tunnel simulating exhaust gases under air velocities of 0.6, 1.1, and 1.7 m/s. Heat was transferred to the TEGs through finned thermosyphons, enabling power generation via the Seebeck effect. The passive heat exchange mechanism successfully recovered up to 250.9 W of thermal power, preheating the inlet air by a maximum of 9.5 °C with a peak thermal effectiveness of 44.4%. Simultaneously, the system achieved a maximum temperature difference of 30.0 °C across the thermoelectric modules, generating a total electrical power of 163.7 mW (81.8 mW per TEG). This dual-purpose operation resulted in a maximum overall first-law efficiency of 9.38% and an electrical power density of 52.20 W/m2 from the low-grade thermal stream. These results confirm the technical feasibility of this compact, passive, and maintenance-free design, highlighting its potential for integration into applications like district heating or industrial ventilation, where balancing thermal and electrical outputs is crucial. Full article
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