Research on the Performance and Regional Applicability of Rural Clean Heating Systems in Jilin Province, China

Rural heating renovation in Jilin Province requires systems that suit regional conditions while balancing household costs and indoor thermal conditions. This study combined a survey of 276 rural households with TRNSYS multizone simulations to assess five heating configurations in Yanji, Changchun, and Baicheng, China. Survey findings informed case selection, while simulations evaluated energy consumption, indoor temperatures, solar contribution, and life-cycle costs over a 4392 h heating season. Under the adopted operating conditions, floor heating configurations consumed 8.2% less biomass in Yanji and 13.0% less electricity in Changchun than their radiator counterparts. These reductions coincided with lower indoor temperatures and, therefore, reflect differences in complete system configurations and controls, rather than in emitter type alone. In Baicheng, useful solar heat supplied 28.3% of seasonal heat delivery, although biomass remained the principal heat source during the coldest months. Discounted costs over 15 years ranged from USD 5411 to USD 11,127, and sensitivity analysis identified relative installation costs as a key determinant of economic rankings. By linking household survey evidence with energy, economic, and hourly temperature assessments, this study provides a basis for regional heating decisions that account for local energy availability, household costs, and the indoor conditions provided.