1. Module overview
This module introduces the principles, technologies and practical applications of district cooling systems. It focuses on how cooling can be produced, distributed, stored and integrated into wider district heating and cooling networks, with particular attention to combined heat and cold production, heat pumps, chillers, refrigerants, renewable and waste heat sources, and district-level energy optimisation.
The module explains the thermodynamic and technical background of cooling and heating processes, including the operation of heat pumps and chillers, simultaneous heating and cooling, absorption refrigeration, thermal energy storage and the role of low-GWP refrigerants. It also examines the economic and environmental aspects of district cooling, including cooling demand density, feasibility compared to conventional cooling systems, carbon emissions, water use, system optimisation and regulatory considerations.
The materials are primarily designed as reusable teaching resources for educators, lecturers and trainers in higher education and professional training. They can support lectures, guided classroom discussion, blended learning activities, simulation exercises, case-study work and independent study. Students and professionals may also use the module for self-study, especially if they already have basic knowledge of HVAC systems, refrigeration, heat pumps, district heating and urban energy systems.
2. Main topics covered in the module
The module covers the following main topics:
- heating and cooling principles;
- district cooling networks and their connection to district heating systems;
- combined heat and cold production;
- simultaneous heating and cooling using heat pumps and chillers;
- heat pump and chiller technologies;
- compressors, heat exchangers and system configurations;
- waste heat and renewable heat integration;
- cold production technologies;
- air-cooled and water-cooled chillers;
- absorption refrigeration machines;
- thermal energy storage for district cooling;
- hybrid systems combining mechanically driven and thermally driven cooling;
- refrigerants, their classification and historical development;
- refrigerant safety, environmental impact, GWP, TEWI, LCCP and LCA;
- current and future refrigerants, including low-GWP and natural refrigerants;
- cooling demand density and feasibility assessment;
- economic and environmental aspects of district cooling;
- optimisation of district cooling technologies;
- realised district cooling and district heating and cooling projects;
- case studies including Barrio La Pinada, Barcelona and cold energy recovery from LNG vaporisation.
3. Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to:
- explain the thermodynamic principles and main technologies underpinning district cooling systems;
- distinguish between heating, cooling, heat pump and chiller operation modes;
- describe the principles and benefits of simultaneous heating and cooling in district energy networks;
- analyse the role of heat pumps, chillers, thermal energy storage and renewable or waste heat sources in district cooling systems;
- compare air-cooled, water-cooled and absorption cooling technologies;
- evaluate refrigerant choices from the perspective of performance, safety and environmental impact;
- assess cooling demand density and explain its importance for the feasibility of district cooling networks;
- compare district cooling with conventional cooling solutions from economic, operational and environmental perspectives;
- identify optimisation strategies for reducing cost, energy use and emissions in district cooling systems;
- interpret real-life district cooling case studies and discuss their relevance for different climatic, urban and technical contexts.
4. Recommended use of the materials
The materials can be used flexibly in higher education and professional training. Educators may adapt the guidebook, slides, exercises, self-study questions and assessment tasks according to the level, format and objectives of their own teaching.
For educators and trainers
Educators may use the module in the following way:
- Review the module overview and learning outcomes: Use the overview to identify how the module fits into an existing course on district energy, HVAC, refrigeration, building services, urban energy systems or sustainable energy technologies.
- Select the relevant guidebook sections: The guidebook may be used as core reading material, supplementary background reading or as a reference document for selected technical topics.
- Use the presentation slides for teaching: The accompanying slides summarise the main concepts, technologies, diagrams, performance indicators and case-study examples. They can support lectures, seminars, blended learning sessions and guided discussion.
- Integrate the self-study and quiz questions: The question sets may be used for classroom discussion, formative assessment, independent study or local LMS-based self-check activities.
- Use the simulation-based exercise: The practical activity asks learners to compare refrigerants and operating conditions using compressor and heat pump simulation data. It supports applied engineering reasoning and performance interpretation.
- Use the case-study activities: The case-study section supports discussion of real district cooling projects, including technical design choices, demand density, energy supply, thermal storage, economic feasibility and environmental impact.
For independent learners
Students and professionals using the module independently may follow the sequence below:
- Review the introductory materials: Familiarise yourself with heating and cooling principles, heat pumps, chillers and the role of district cooling networks.
- Study the guidebook: Read the sections on combined heat and cold production, cold production technologies, refrigerants, economic and environmental aspects, and realised projects.
- Review the presentation slides: Use the slides to consolidate the main concepts, diagrams, technology comparisons and case-study findings.
- Complete the self-check quiz: Test your understanding of district cooling systems, refrigerants, thermal storage, chillers and feasibility assessment.
- Work through the practical exercise: Use simulation data to compare cooling and heating modes, refrigerant performance and environmental impact.
- Review the case studies: Analyse how district cooling solutions are adapted to different cities, climates, demand profiles and energy sources.
5. Learning materials
This section contains the reusable teaching and learning resources related to the module. The materials are designed to support educators and trainers in integrating district cooling topics into higher education and professional training activities. They may also be used for guided or independent learning.
5.1 Guidebook
The guidebook contains the theoretical background, technical explanations, figures, references and realised project examples covered in the module. The related exercises, case-study activities and question bank are provided as separate downloadable supporting resources.
Resources
- 👁️ View online
- ⬇️ Download PDF
5.2 Presentation slides
The presentation slides summarise the key concepts, technical principles and case-study examples covered throughout the module. They are designed to support classroom teaching, guided discussion and independent review.
The slides cover combined heat and cold production, simultaneous heating and cooling, heat pump and chiller technologies, thermal energy storage, cold production technologies, refrigerants, economic and environmental aspects of district cooling, optimisation approaches and selected district cooling case studies.
Resources
- 👁️ View slides
- ⬇️ Download PDF
5.3 Extended case-study slides
Additional teaching slides presenting realised district cooling and district heating and cooling case studies from different contexts. This resource may be used by educators for extended classroom discussion, comparative case analysis or project-based learning.
Resources
- 👁️ View slides
- ⬇️ Download PDF
5.4 Module video
The module video provides a short visual introduction to one selected topic, concept or practical aspect of the module. It is designed to support the use of the written learning materials, presentation slides and related learning activities.
The video can be used by educators as part of a lecture, blended learning activity or classroom discussion, and by learners as an additional resource for guided or independent study.
Resources
- 🎥 Module video
5.5 Self-check quiz
The self-check quiz allows learners to evaluate their understanding of the main concepts and engineering principles presented in the module. Educators may also use it as a model for formative assessment or adapt the related question bank for their own teaching context.
The quiz includes questions related to:
- district cooling systems and heat pumps;
- simultaneous heating and cooling;
- chillers and absorption refrigeration;
- thermal energy storage;
- refrigerant classification and environmental impact;
- low-GWP and natural refrigerants;
- cooling demand density;
- economic and environmental feasibility;
- optimisation of district cooling technologies;
- interpretation of district cooling case studies.
Resources
- ✅ Start self-check quiz
5.6 Practical exercise: Cooling and heat pump simulation with refrigerant comparison
The module includes a practical simulation-based exercise in which learners compare the performance of cooling and heat pump operation under different temperature conditions and refrigerant choices.
Learners use simulation results to analyse cooling mode and heating mode performance, compare a baseline HFC refrigerant with a low-GWP alternative, interpret EER and COP trends, and discuss how evaporating and condensing temperatures influence system efficiency. The activity also includes a climate-adaptation task, where learners propose suitable heat pump or cooling configurations for different climatic conditions, and an environmental impact task based on GWP and TEWI considerations.
The exercise supports applied engineering reasoning and can be used for individual work, pair work, group discussion, homework assignments or short technical reports. The downloadable resource includes the exercise instructions and suggested solutions to support independent study.
Resources
5.7 Classroom case study: District cooling applications in different climates
The case-study assignment asks learners to select one district cooling or district heating and cooling case study and prepare a short technical report. The cases cover different climatic and technological contexts, including seawater-based simultaneous heating and cooling, solar-driven absorption chillers, low-GWP refrigerant transition, ammonia heat pumps and PCM-based thermal energy storage.
The activity supports applied analysis, comparison of technological solutions and reflection on the transferability of district cooling concepts to different urban and climatic contexts.
Resources
5.8 Question bank and answer key
The question bank contains self-study, revision and assessment questions organised by module topic. It includes questions on district cooling systems, heat pumps, cooling technologies, absorption systems, refrigerants, heat pump integration, thermal energy storage and hybrid systems.
The resource also includes suggested answers for selected assessment questions, supporting both independent learning and reuse by educators in higher education and professional training contexts.
Resources
6. Practical application
The module focuses on the practical design, assessment and optimisation of district cooling systems. The presented concepts, examples and exercises are intended to support both conceptual understanding and applied technical analysis.
Practical topics covered in the module include:
- identifying suitable applications for district cooling;
- analysing cooling and heating temperature levels;
- evaluating simultaneous heating and cooling opportunities;
- comparing chiller, heat pump and absorption refrigeration options;
- assessing air-cooled and water-cooled chiller configurations;
- interpreting COP, EER and SEER values;
- comparing refrigerants from efficiency and environmental perspectives;
- estimating the role of GWP, TEWI, LCCP and LCA in refrigerant selection;
- assessing cooling demand density and network feasibility;
- evaluating the use of thermal energy storage for peak shifting;
- discussing waste heat and renewable heat integration;
- comparing district cooling with conventional cooling solutions;
- analysing case studies from different climatic and urban contexts;
- preparing short technical, environmental or feasibility assessments.
The materials are intended not only for individual learning, but also for adaptation and reuse in higher education teaching and professional training activities.
7. Further reading and references
The module materials are supported by technical references, engineering literature, standards, reports and case-study sources related to district cooling, heat pumps, chillers, refrigerants, thermal energy storage, environmental assessment and realised district cooling networks.
Key references and resources include:
- technical literature on heat pumps, chillers and simultaneous heating and cooling;
- sources on high-temperature heat pumps and low-GWP refrigerants;
- standards and guidance related to refrigerant designation, safety and environmental assessment;
- references on GWP, TEWI, LCCP and LCA;
- technical materials on district cooling demand density and feasibility;
- literature on thermal energy storage in district heating and cooling systems;
- case-study sources on district cooling and district heating and cooling projects, including Barrio La Pinada, Barcelona and cold energy recovery from LNG vaporisation;
- additional bibliography and technical references included in the guidebook materials.
8. Feedback
Educators, trainers and learners are invited to provide feedback on the module and its potential use in higher education and professional training contexts.
Feedback may address:
- clarity and usability of the materials;
- relevance of the technical content;
- applicability in teaching and professional training;
- suitability for independent or blended learning;
- usefulness of the simulation exercise;
- relevance of the case studies;
- suitability of the self-study and assessment questions;
- possibilities for integration into existing courses and training programmes.
Resources