Analysis of raw wastewater heat recovery in the TRNSYS modeling environment
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.27156Abstract
The potential for thermal energy recovery from wastewater in the climatic conditions of Vilnius city is analyzed using the TRNSYS modeling tool. The article examines how much heat can be recovered from domestic wastewater and to what extent this energy can be effectively used, contributing to increasing energy efficiency and implementing sustainable solutions. The numerical model was calibrated using real data obtained in a public facility, when experimental measurements were performed under various climatic and energy consumption conditions. Parametric analysis was performed during the modeling, allowing to assess the influence of the initial climatic data on the obtained results and the sensitivity of the model to these factors.
Article in Lithuanian.
Nevalytų nuotekų šilumos atgavimo analizė TRNSYS modeliavimo aplinkoje
Santrauka
Analizuojamas šiluminės energijos išgavimo iš nuotekų potencialas Vilniaus miesto klimato sąlygomis taikant TRNSYS modeliavimo priemonę. Straipsnyje nagrinėjama, kiek šilumos galima atgauti iš buitinių nuotekų bei kokiu mastu ši energija gali būti veiksmingai panaudota, prisidedant prie energinio efektyvumo didinimo ir tvarių sprendimų įgyvendinimo. Skaitmeninis modelis buvo kalibruotas naudojant realius duomenis, gautus viešosios paskirties objekte atlikus eksperimentinius matavimus esant įvairioms klimato ir energijos suvartojimo sąlygoms. Modeliuojant atlikta parametrinė analizė, leidžianti įvertinti pradinių klimato duomenų įtaką gautiems rezultatams ir modelio jautrumą šiems veiksniams.
Reikšminiai žodžiai: modeliavimas, atsinaujinantys energijos ištekliai, energija, šilumos siurblys, nuotakynas, pastato nuotekų šulinys, TRNSYS.
Keywords:
modeling, renewable energy resources, energy, heat pump, sewage system, domestic sewage well, TRNSYSHow to Cite
Share
License
Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Adesanya, M. A., Na, W. H., Rabiu, A., Ogunlowo, Q. O., Akpenpuun, T. D., Rasheed, A., Yoon, Y. C., & Lee, H. W. (2022). TRNSYS simulation and experimental validation of internal temperature and heating demand in a glass greenhouse. Sustainability, 14(14), Article 8283. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148283
Baltijos Amerikos klinika. (2024). Baltijos-Amerikos terapijos ir chirurgijos klinika. https://bak.lt/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20519023644&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9Y3Sg4CZjgMVCwuiAx1DqSVoEAAYASAAEgIVAvD_BwE
Bogdan, D., & Čiuprinskas, K. (2022). Feasibility study of heat recovery form treated wastewater in wastewater treatment plant and use it in nearby object. Mokslas – Lietuvos ateitis / Science Future of Lithuania, 14, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2022.17237
Brough, D., Ramos, J., Delpech, B., & Jouhara, H. (2021). Development and validation of a TRNSYS type to simulate heat pipe heat exchangers in transient applications of waste heat recovery. International Journal of Thermofluids, 9, Article 100056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2020.100056
Chen, W. A., Lim, J., Miyata, S., & Akashi, Y. (2022). Methodology of evaluating the sewage heat utilization potential by modelling the urban sewage state prediction model. Sustainable Cities and Society, 80, Article 103751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.103751
Cipolla, S. S., & Maglionico, M. (2014). Heat recovery from urban wastewater: Analysis of the variability of flow rate and temperature. Energy and Buildings, 69, 122–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.10.017
Daugirdaitė, G., Streckienė, G., & Kropas, T. (2021). Operation analysis of the air-source heat pump using TRNSYS simulation tool. Mokslas – Lietuvos Ateitis / Science – Future of Lithuania, 13, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2021.15266
Gerasimovič, G. ir Čiuprinskas, K. (2025). Nevalytų nuotekų šilumos atgavimo tyrimas. Iš 28-osios konferencijos „Darni aplinka“ (p. 165–170). Vilnius TECH. https://doi.org/10.3846/da.2025.027
Iungman, T., Khomenko, S., Barboza, E. P., Cirach, M., Gonçalves, K., Petrone, P., Erbertseder, T., Taubenböck, H., Chakraborty, T., & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2024). The impact of urban configuration types on urban heat islands, air pollution, CO2 emissions, and mortality in Europe: A data science approach. The Lancet Planetary Health, 8(7), e489–e505. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00120-7
Kennedy, C., Cuddihy, J., & Engel-Yan, J. (2007). The changing metabolism of cities. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 11(2), 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1162/jie.2007.1107
Pang, L., Liu, L., Zhou, X., Hafeez, M., Ullah, S., & Sohail, M. T. (2024). How does natural resource depletion affect energy security risk? New insights from major energy-consuming countries. Energy Strategy Reviews, 54, Article 101460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2024.101460
Soni, R., Dvivedi, A., & Kumar, P. (2025). Carbon neutrality in transportation: In the context of renewable sources. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 19(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15568318.2024.2447999
Streckienė, G., Motuzienė, V., Rimdžius, D., Martinaitis, V., & Bielskus, J. (2018). Simulation of annual functionality of roof turbine ventilator. E3S Web of Conferences, 64, Article 07002. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20186407002
Transient System Simulation Tool. (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2025, from https://www.trnsys.com/
Zhang, D., Fang, C., Gao, Z., Wang, X., Shen, C., & Li, H. (2023). Energy, environmental and economic assessment of wastewater heat recovery systems in hotel buildings. Applied Thermal Engineering, 222, Article 119949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.119949
View article in other formats
Published
Issue
Section
Copyright
Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.