Analysis of Building Parameter Uncertainty in District Heating for Optimal Control of Network Flexibility

Annelies Vandermeulen, Ina De Jaeger, Tijs Van Oevelen, Dirk Saelens and Lieve Helsen
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Annelies Vandermeulen: EnergyVille, Thor Park 8310, 3600 Genk, Belgium
Ina De Jaeger: EnergyVille, Thor Park 8310, 3600 Genk, Belgium
Tijs Van Oevelen: EnergyVille, Thor Park 8310, 3600 Genk, Belgium
Dirk Saelens: EnergyVille, Thor Park 8310, 3600 Genk, Belgium
Lieve Helsen: EnergyVille, Thor Park 8310, 3600 Genk, Belgium

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: Network flexibility is the use of the thermal capacity of water that is contained in the district heating network pipes to store energy and shift the heat load in time. Through optimal control, this network flexibility can aid in applications such as peak shaving and operational heat pump optimisation. Yet, optimal control requires perfect predictions and complete knowledge of the system characteristics. In reality, this is not the case and uncertainties exist. To obtain insight into the importance of these uncertainties, this paper studies the influence of imperfect knowledge of building parameters on the optimal network flexibility activation and its performance. It is found that for the optimisation of heat pump operation, building parameter uncertainties do not present large risks. For peak shaving, a more robust result can be achieved by activating more network flexibility than may be required.

Keywords: district heating; optimal control; heat demand flexibility; building parameter uncertainty; robust control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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