Design of biomass district heating systemsDesign of biomass district heating systems Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-09-272009enUnder the new energy situation, biomass takes advantage of the forest, agricultural and manure residuals and in extent, urban and industrial wastes to produce a recovered alternative fuel, which under controlled burning conditions, can generate heat and electricity, with limited environmental impact. Biomass can contribute -significantly- in the energy supplying system, with positive system-wide consequences, if the engineers will accept the necessary design changes to the traditional systems and become more familiar with the design details of the biomass heating systems. The aim of this paper is to present the rational design of biomass district heating systems. The data required for the optimum design are related to the urban settlement, and the building structure. Also, are presented the essential energy models for the size calculations of a biomass burning-district heating system, as well as for the environmental (i.e. Greenhouse Gas Emissions) and economical evaluation (i.e. selectivity and viability of the relevant investment) of the system. Specific emphasis is been put on the technical parameters of the biomass system, as well as the economic details of the boiler, the heating distribution network, the heat exchanger and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The design, which will be presented will be developed in a parametrical logic, providing the impact assessment in the case of variance of one or more technical/economical parameters of the energy system. The engineers who design such systems have very limited experience on the field. This is one of the main reasons of the very limited applications in Southern Europe; the authors estimate that this paper will provide practical guidelines for process designers.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Biomass and Bioenergy334659–678 George Papadakis Theocharis Tsoutsos Ioannis Vallios Pergamon Balance of nature Biology--Ecology Bionomics Ecological processes Ecological science Ecological sciences Environment Environmental biology Oecology ecology balance of nature biology ecology bionomics ecological processes ecological science ecological sciences environment environmental biology oecology