Comparison of heat losses in channel and preinsulated district heating networks

Heat distribution networks were first designed and introduced in 1877 in Lockport, New York, USA (Comakli et al. 2004) and they have since been introduced to many countries. Very little attention has been paid to the heat losses from these systems over the years as they had clear benefits. The main advantage was to distribute heat to consumers living a long distance from the heating plant.