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Optimizing district thermal network design and phasing strategies using the City Energy Analyst
This research focuses on optimizing district thermal network design and phasing strategies by incorporating existing infrastructure and studying interplays with urban design metrics. While many existing district thermal network models often assume the absence of prior infrastructure, this study introduces methodologies to account for existing pipes, plants, and pumps, enabling a more realistic scenario for network planning. Additionally, the research explores phased implementation strategies to maximize return on investment under budget constraints, providing a pathway for incremental network construction and operation.
A key aspect of the study is the feedback loop between urban design and thermal network engineering, which quantifies how urban parameters such as building density, land use types, and development phasing affect network performance, and vice versa. The proposed methodologies are applied to case studies in Zurich, Singapore, and Shanghai, representing diverse climatic and urban contexts.
The outcomes include a framework for integrating existing infrastructure, strategies for phased implementation, and insights into the dynamic interplay between urban design and district energy systems. If time permits, the research will also produce a computational prototype for integration into the City Energy Analyst (CEA).
Keywords: District thermal network; Urban design; Retrofitting; City Energy Analyst
**Research Questions**
1. How can existing thermal infrastructure be integrated into district thermal network designs to optimize energy performance and scalability?
2. What phasing strategies can maximize ROI for thermal network implementation under investment constraints?
3. How can thermal network performance feedback inform urban design metrics, such as energy efficiency, carbon footprint, and phasing strategies?
**Methodology**
1. Literature Review
Survey global best practices for integrating existing thermal infrastructure into new network designs.
Explore how thermal networks interact with and influence urban design metrics.
2. Network Model Development
Incorporate existing infrastructure into thermal network design (pipes, plants, pumps).
Develop phasing strategies for incremental implementation.
Integrate metrics to evaluate the impact of network designs on urban parameters:
Energy efficiency (e.g., network losses, plant capacity factor).
Environmental impact (e.g., emissions).
Land use efficiency and spatial constraints.
3. Feedback Loop for Urban Design
Use the enhanced network model to evaluate urban design scenarios.
Quantify how urban form changes (e.g., building volume, land use type mix, phasing and retrofitting strategy) affect network performance (e.g., return of investment) and vice versa.
4. Case studies
Zurich: Heating-dominant network design.
Singapore: Cooling-dominant network design.
Shanghai: Mixed heating and cooling requirements.
**Candidate Description**
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a background in architecture/urban design (with a strong interest in engineering/computational modelling/data science), or engineering (with a strong interest in architecture/urban design).
You should have good verbal and written communication skills in English. Experience in CAD (e.g., Rhino 3D), parametric design programs (e.g., Grasshopper), basic programming using Python, urban building energy modelling (UBEM) and an understanding of district heating/cooling engineering are essential.
You should be impact-driven with a product-thinking mindset. The research outcome is expected to be integrated into the open-source City Energy Analyst benefiting the global UBEM community for decarbonising cities through urban and architectural design.
**Research Questions** 1. How can existing thermal infrastructure be integrated into district thermal network designs to optimize energy performance and scalability? 2. What phasing strategies can maximize ROI for thermal network implementation under investment constraints? 3. How can thermal network performance feedback inform urban design metrics, such as energy efficiency, carbon footprint, and phasing strategies?
**Methodology** 1. Literature Review Survey global best practices for integrating existing thermal infrastructure into new network designs. Explore how thermal networks interact with and influence urban design metrics. 2. Network Model Development Incorporate existing infrastructure into thermal network design (pipes, plants, pumps). Develop phasing strategies for incremental implementation. Integrate metrics to evaluate the impact of network designs on urban parameters: Energy efficiency (e.g., network losses, plant capacity factor). Environmental impact (e.g., emissions). Land use efficiency and spatial constraints. 3. Feedback Loop for Urban Design Use the enhanced network model to evaluate urban design scenarios. Quantify how urban form changes (e.g., building volume, land use type mix, phasing and retrofitting strategy) affect network performance (e.g., return of investment) and vice versa. 4. Case studies Zurich: Heating-dominant network design. Singapore: Cooling-dominant network design. Shanghai: Mixed heating and cooling requirements.
**Candidate Description** We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a background in architecture/urban design (with a strong interest in engineering/computational modelling/data science), or engineering (with a strong interest in architecture/urban design).
You should have good verbal and written communication skills in English. Experience in CAD (e.g., Rhino 3D), parametric design programs (e.g., Grasshopper), basic programming using Python, urban building energy modelling (UBEM) and an understanding of district heating/cooling engineering are essential.
You should be impact-driven with a product-thinking mindset. The research outcome is expected to be integrated into the open-source City Energy Analyst benefiting the global UBEM community for decarbonising cities through urban and architectural design.
**Deliverables**
1. Technical Report:
Framework for integrating existing infrastructure and phasing district thermal networks.
Metrics for evaluating the interactions between urban design and network performance.
Results from case studies in Zurich, Singapore, and Shanghai.
Heuristics on urban design and district thermal network engineering interplays.
2. Computational Model:
A robust model for thermal network design and phasing strategies.
If feasible, a prototype for integration into tools like CEA, enhancing its thermal network feature.
**Deliverables** 1. Technical Report: Framework for integrating existing infrastructure and phasing district thermal networks. Metrics for evaluating the interactions between urban design and network performance. Results from case studies in Zurich, Singapore, and Shanghai. Heuristics on urban design and district thermal network engineering interplays. 2. Computational Model: A robust model for thermal network design and phasing strategies. If feasible, a prototype for integration into tools like CEA, enhancing its thermal network feature.
The master thesis will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter, Dr. Zhongming Shi and Mathias Niffeler.
Please send your statement of interest including a short CV and current transcript of records to Dr. Zhongming Shi(shi@arch.ethz.ch). Please direct questions regarding the position to the same e-mail.
Information on the A/S Research Group can be found here: https://systems.arch.ethz.ch/
Information on the City Energy Analyst can be found here: https://www.cityenergyanalyst.com/
The master thesis will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Arno Schlüter, Dr. Zhongming Shi and Mathias Niffeler.
Please send your statement of interest including a short CV and current transcript of records to Dr. Zhongming Shi(shi@arch.ethz.ch). Please direct questions regarding the position to the same e-mail.
Information on the A/S Research Group can be found here: https://systems.arch.ethz.ch/ Information on the City Energy Analyst can be found here: https://www.cityenergyanalyst.com/