scholarly journals Robust control of a cogeneration plant supplying a district heating system to enable grid flexibility

2021 ◽  
Vol 238 ◽  
pp. 05001
Author(s):  
Andrea De Lorenzi ◽  
Agostino Gambarotta ◽  
Mirko Morini ◽  
Costanza Saletti
Keyword(s):  
Robust Control ◽  
Predictive Control ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
District Heating System ◽  
Plant Operator

In recent years, the flexibility of energy systems has become essential due to the growing penetration of renewable energy sources. The producers and consumers can enhance this flexibility by enabling a given amount of power that they can produce or consume in every condition. This is made available to the grid operator to globally optimize the dispatch management and to stabilize the grid. However, this can interfere with the operation of production units such as cogeneration plants, which also have to meet thermal demand. Therefore, producers and consumers require smart controllers to comply with grid operator requests at any time. This paper proposes a robust control strategy based on Model Predictive Control, which manages distribution networks and production plants by considering the uncertainty of the requirements for flexibility from the grid operator. The simulation case study is the district heating network of a school complex supplied by a Combined Heat and Power plant and a Thermal Energy Storage tank. The robustness of the proposed optimization is investigated by simulating several scenarios with different degrees of uncertainty about the request for electricity from the grid operator. The results show that the plant operator is able to comply with the electricity requirements to different extents depending on the degree of uncertainty and on system design choices. These considerations make it possible to improve the plant design and production planning from the perspective of grid flexibility.

scholarly journals Methodology for the Improvement of Large District Heating Networks

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Volkova ◽  
Vladislav Mashatin ◽  
Aleksander Hlebnikov ◽  
Andres Siirde
Keyword(s):  
Heat Generation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Heating System ◽  
District Heating System ◽  
Effective Operation ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Heating Networks

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to offer a methodology for the evaluation of large district heating networks. The methodology includes an analysis of heat generation and distribution based on the models created in the TERMIS and EnergyPro software Data from the large-scale Tallinn district heating system was used for the approbation of the proposed methodology as a basis of the case study. The effective operation of the district heating system, both at the stage of heat generation and heat distribution, can reduce the cost of heat supplied to the consumers. It can become an important factor for increasing the number of district heating consumers and demand for the heat load, which in turn will allow installing new cogeneration plants, using renewable energy sources and heat pump technologies

scholarly journals Small Nuclear Reactor—Nordic District Heating Case Study

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Teräsvirta ◽  
Sanna Syri ◽  
Pauli Hiltunen
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
District Heating System ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
Micro Reactors ◽  
Financial Impacts

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have been recognized to have potential in decarbonizing district heating, which is currently an urgent sustainability challenge in many European countries. In this paper, the financial impacts of replacing peat and biomass-powered Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants with heat-only reactors of 24–200 MW power range and maximum output temperatures of 120 °C are studied. A district heating system of a medium-sized Nordic city in Eastern Finland is modeled with EnergyPRO computer software (EMD International A/S, Aalborg, Denmark), which is used to optimize plant units’ production for cost effectiveness. A future scenario is used to predict electricity prices, expenditures from CO2 emission allowances, and fuel prices for the studied case. Results show that the low operating expenditures of CO2 free heat-only reactors would compensate for the revenue losses from electricity sales and that a small number of micro reactors, with power output in the tens of megawatts range each, would be optimal for the studied case. Since investment cost estimates for SMRs still bear significant uncertainties, the subject should be followed in further studies, as heat-only SMRs could provide a profitable alternative for current CHP production in the future.

scholarly journals Potentials for improving energy performance of multifamily housing blocks connected to the district heating system

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (Suppl. 4) ◽  
pp. 1183-1193
Author(s):  
Natasa Cukovic-Ignjatovic ◽  
Dusan Ignjatovic ◽  
Budimir Sudimac
Keyword(s):  
Housing Stock ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
District Level ◽  
Multifamily Housing ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
District Heating System

Developments conceived following the principles of Athens Charter were typical form of urban answer to the post-war housing shortage and during the decades of intense construction activity that followed. In city of Belgrade, multifamily housing in open city blocks built between 1961 and 1990 account for about 40% of current housing stock. The current ownership and operation of these housing blocks derive from their socialist legacy: home-owners rights relate only to the buildings, excluding any open spaces, even the ones immediately along the building?s perimeter. On the other hand, heating is supplied by district heating system. Management of open spaces as well as provision of district heating are subordinates to local municipality (the city of Belgrade). Energy efficiency related refurbishment options for these developments that would engage both the home-owners and the public companies may be the key for bringing ever-needed modernization, prolonged lifespan and a sustainable way of using this portion of housing stock. By applying simple architectural measures, energy demand for heating of these buildings can be reduced by 30-78%, which opens a pathway for effective use of renewable energy sources. Unlike solar energy, which can be managed at building level, geothermal energy can be exploited only at the district level due to the ownership rights. The presented research explores the effectiveness of using geo-thermal energy at a district level coupled with systematic approach to building refurbishment, taking the advantage of the repetitive use of the same building design and the formal and practical relations with local authorities.

scholarly journals Transition towards a sustainable heating sector in municipality of Visoko with analysis of loading and optimization of solar collector carriers

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Heating System ◽  
District Heating System ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
South Eastern

Many traditional heating systems based on fossils face challenges such as lack of investment or unfavorable price regulation, low technical performance, impact on the environment and negative consumer perceptions. The CoolHeating project funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 program, whose basic features and outcomes are presented in this work, promotes the implementation of small modular renewable heating and cooling grids for communities in South-Eastern Europe, including the town of Visoko as one of five target regions. Core activities, besides techno-economical assessments and social-environmental benefits, include measures to stimulate the interest of communities and citizens to set-up renewable district heating systems. In this work, an analysis was performed for implementation of small modular district heating system in Visoko, covering several public buildings and few neighborhoods in north-western part of town. Combination of different renewable energy sources were analyzed leading to an optimal and a very promising energy supply strategy due to its contribution to security of supply, financial stability, local economic development, local employment, etc. Possible financial savings for heating of 38% compared to current financial needs are determined. Structure optimization of solar collector holders was also performed, taking into account external influence, enabling savings in the structure material. This approach confirms feasibility of transition from traditional to renewable energy based heating system. Having in mind the modularity of such systems, similar solutions can be replicated in other South-Eastern European cities and other countries.

scholarly journals Air Quality Planning and the Minimization of Negative Externalities

Resources ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Ravina ◽  
Deborah Panepinto ◽  
Mariachiara Zanetti
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Negative Externalities ◽  
District Heating System ◽  
Quality Planning ◽  
Air Quality Planning ◽  
The Impact

The minimization of negative externalities is a key aspect in the development of a circular and sustainable economic model. At the local scale, especially in urban areas, externalities are generated by the adverse impacts of air pollution on human health. Local air quality policies and plans often lack of considerations and instruments for the quantification and evaluation of external health costs. Support for decision-makers is needed, in particular during the implementation stage of air quality plans. Modelling tools based on the impact pathway approach can provide such support. In this paper, the implementation of health impacts and externalities analysis in air quality planning is evaluated. The state of the art in European member states is reported, considering whether and how health effects have been included in the planning schemes. The air quality plan of the Piemonte region in Italy is then considered. A case study is analyzed to evaluate a plan action, i.e., the development of the district heating system in the city of Turin. The DIATI (Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Ambiente, del Territorio e delle Infrastrutture) Dispersion and Externalities Model (DIDEM model) is applied to detect the scenario with the highest external cost reduction. This methodology results are extensible and adaptable to other actions and measures, as well as other local policies in Europe. The use of health externalities should be encouraged and integrated into the present methodology supporting air quality planning. Efforts should be addressed to quantify and minimize the overall uncertainty of the process.

scholarly journals Analysis of Different Strategies for Lowering the Operation Temperature in Existing District Heating Networks

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Neirotti ◽  
Michel Noussan ◽  
Stefano Riverso ◽  
Giorgio Manganini
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
District Heating System

District heating systems have an important role in increasing the efficiency of the heating and cooling sector, especially when coupled to combined heat and power plants. However, in the transition towards decarbonization, current systems show some challenges for the integration of Renewable Energy Sources and Waste Heat. In particular, a crucial aspect is represented by the operating temperatures of the network. This paper analyzes two different approaches for the decrease of operation temperatures of existing networks, which are often supplying old buildings with a low degree of insulation. A simulation model was applied to some case studies to evaluate how a low-temperature operation of an existing district heating system performs compared to the standard operation, by considering two different approaches: (1) a different control strategy involving nighttime operation to avoid the morning peak demand; and (2) the partial insulation of the buildings to decrease operation temperatures without the need of modifying the heating system of the users. Different temperatures were considered to evaluate a threshold based on the characteristics of the buildings supplied by the network. The results highlight an interesting potential for optimization of existing systems by tuning the control strategies and performing some energy efficiency operation. The network temperature can be decreased with a continuous operation of the system, or with energy efficiency intervention in buildings, and distributed heat pumps used as integration could provide significant advantages. Each solution has its own limitations and critical parameters, which are discussed in detail.

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