Feasibility study of district cooling systems for carbon neutrality in educational institutions: A case study of KMUTT

This research focused on the investigation and analysis of the District Cooling System (DCS), a highly efficient and environmentally friendly cooling system designed to substitute conventional split-type air conditioning systems. This research study intended to encourage King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Therefore, the design and assessment of DCS under various scenarios, including the appropriateness of chiller size and technology selection, the integration of thermal energy storage systems (TES) with DCS, and the incorporation of green solar energy, were proposed to compare the techno-economic and environmental aspects. Faculty of Architecture at KMUTT’s Bangkhunthian campus was chosen as the case study location. Historical data was used to determine the cooling load and profiles. The results found that some scenario of DCS configurations may enhance system efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and lower carbon emissions when compared with ordinary air conditioning systems. In terms of energy and environment, the use the solar cells can reduce electricity consumption up to 66% compared to the traditional system and reduce carbon emissions by 1,268.85 tons CO2. In contrast, the economic analysis shows that all options have a negative Internal Rate of Return (IRR), indicating a lack of economic viability. However, a high initial investment cost of DCS resulted in a longer payback time. Therefore, further study is needed to analyze the effect of building distance on energy loss within the pipe system and its overall efficiency.