Kaukojäähdytysverkkoja

Kaukojäähdytysverkkoja, also known as district cooling networks, are systems that deliver chilled water from a central plant to multiple buildings for air conditioning purposes. These networks operate on a similar principle to district heating, but instead of distributing hot water, they distribute cold water. The chilled water is produced in a district cooling plant, which can utilize various cooling technologies such as large-scale chillers, absorption chillers powered by waste heat, or even utilize natural cold sources like seawater or lake water.

Once produced, the chilled water is pumped through an insulated underground pipeline network to connected buildings. Each building has a heat exchanger that transfers the cold from the district cooling water to the building's internal cooling system, typically circulating water or air. The warmed district cooling water then returns to the central plant to be re-chilled, completing the cycle.

The primary benefits of kaukojäähdytysverkkoja include increased energy efficiency compared to individual building cooling systems, reduced peak electricity demand, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, especially when the cooling is generated from renewable sources or waste heat. They also free up space within buildings that would otherwise be occupied by individual air conditioning units and machinery. These networks are particularly suitable for densely populated urban areas and commercial districts where a high concentration of cooling demand exists.