Control of Heat Pumps with CO 2 Emission Intensity Forecasts

Kenneth Leerbeck, Peder Bacher, Rune Grønborg Junker, Anna Tveit, Olivier Corradi, Henrik Madsen and Razgar Ebrahimy
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Kenneth Leerbeck: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Peder Bacher: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Rune Grønborg Junker: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Anna Tveit: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Olivier Corradi: Tomorrow (Tmrow IVS), Njalsgade, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
Henrik Madsen: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Razgar Ebrahimy: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: An optimized heat pump control for building heating was developed for minimizing CO 2 emissions from related electrical power generation. The control is using weather and CO 2 emission forecasts as inputs to a Model Predictive Control (MPC)—a multivariate control algorithm using a dynamic process model, constraints and a cost function to be minimized. In a simulation study, the control was applied using weather and power grid conditions during a full-year period in 2017–2018 for the power bidding zone DK2 (East, Denmark). Two scenarios were studied; one with a family house and one with an office building. The buildings were dimensioned based on standards and building codes/regulations. The main results are measured as the CO 2 emission savings relative to a classical thermostatic control. Note that this only measures the gain achieved using the MPC control, that is, the energy flexibility, not the absolute savings. The results show that around 16% of savings could have been achieved during the period in well-insulated new buildings with floor heating. Further, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of various building properties, for example, level of insulation and thermal capacity. Danish building codes from 1977 and forward were used as benchmarks for insulation levels. It was shown that both insulation and thermal mass influence the achievable flexibility savings, especially for floor heating. Buildings that comply with building codes later than 1979 could provide flexibility emission savings of around 10%, while buildings that comply with earlier codes provided savings in the range of 0–5% depending on the heating system and thermal mass.

Keywords: heat pumps; model predictive control (MPC); buildings; dynamic systems; CO 2 -emissions; electrical grid power (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 (6)

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