Optimization of District Heating Network Parameters in Steady-State Operation

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive framework for modeling, simulating, and optimizing steady-state district heating networks, including system components and physical constraints, demonstrated through a realistic test case.

Contribution

It introduces a generalizable modeling and optimization approach for district heating systems, incorporating physical laws and component limitations for steady-state operation.

Findings

Effective optimization of system states including pressures and temperatures.

Validation on a realistic test network under multiple scenarios.

Framework adaptable to various district heating configurations.

Abstract

We examine the modeling, simulation, and optimization of district heating systems, which are widely used for thermal transport using steam or hot water as a carrier. We propose a generalizable framework to specify network models and scenario parameters, and develop an optimization method for evaluating system states including pressures, fluid flow rates, and temperatures throughout the network. The network modeling includes pipes, thermal plants, pumps, and passive or controllable loads as system components. We propose basic models for thermodynamic fluid transport and enforce the balance of physical quantities in steady-state flow over co-located outgoing and return networks. We formulate an optimization problem with steam and hot water as the outgoing and return carriers, as in legacy 20th century systems. The physical laws and engineering limitations are specified for each component type, and the thermal network flow optimization (TNFO) problem is formulated and solved for a realistic test network under several scenarios.