Thermal performance of a steady state physical pipe model for simulating district heating grids with variable flow

摘要: Abstract Modern district heating grids are typically operated using variable flow control. Challenges arise when modeling thermal interactions in networks as tracking of transport delays is required. In this work, a pipe model constructed steady state heat transfer combined with delay model. The resulting (i.e. the SS-VTD model) validated experimentally measured data from energy grid located Saanich, Canada. Modeling error and computational intensity assessed numerically by comparing simulation outputs those obtained transient 1D-PDE model). Matlab®/Simulink® software used to construct models conduct simulations. Fifteen scenarios simulated over range time step sizes segment lengths. all scenarios, decreasing length and/or size results greater intensity. Varying found have minimal impact on model, whereas varying significant impact. Results show that compared at same fixed 1 s, approximately 4000 times less.