Integration of Flow Temperatures in Unit Commitment Models of Future District Heating Systems

Cynthia Boysen, Cord Kaldemeyer, Simon Hilpert and Ilja Tuschy
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Cynthia Boysen: Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (ZNES), 24943 Flensburg, Germany
Cord Kaldemeyer: Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (ZNES), 24943 Flensburg, Germany
Simon Hilpert: Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (ZNES), 24943 Flensburg, Germany
Ilja Tuschy: Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (ZNES), 24943 Flensburg, Germany

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: The transformation of heat supply structures towards 4th generation district heating (4GDH) involves lower supply temperatures and a shift in technology. In order to assess the economic viability of the respective systems, adequate unit commitment models are needed. However, maintaining the formal requirements, while reducing the computational efforts of these models, often includes simplifications such as the assumption of constant supply temperatures. This study investigates the effect of introducing varying supply temperatures in mixed-integer linear programming models. Based on a case study of a municipal district heating system, how the temperature integration approach affects unit commitment and technology assessment for different temperature levels and scenarios is analyzed. In particular, three supply temperature levels are investigated with both variable and constant temperatures in two scenarios. Results indicate that lower flow temperature levels in the heating network tend to favor internal combustion engines, combined cycle power plants, and heat pumps; while back pressure steam turbines, peak loads, and electric boilers show declining operating hours. Furthermore, the effect of varying versus constant temperatures at the same temperature level is rather small, at least as long as technical restrictions do not come into play. Finally, it is found that the effect of changing temperature on a technology assessment is comparably small as opposed to adaptions in the regulatory framework.

Keywords: mixed-integer linear programming; unit commitment; district heating systems; supply temperature; low temperature levels (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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