Objective
To establish as part of an overall pipeline integrity monitoring system a computer system for on-line control of pumping operations in a district heating transmission system which includes a number of heat suppliers and large groups of consumers, and to ensure minimum pumping costs.
Factory test of main parts of the system has been completed. Functional Specification and Users Manual have been prepared.
When an increased number of heat producers and heat consumers are connected to a district heating transmission system, traditional automatic, economic energy pumping control becomes extremely complicated. In practice, the location of the points which should be used for control, change according to system load. To ensure supply, pumping operations will therefore generally be defined conservatively, leading to unnecessary pumping costs.
Considerable savings on pumping expenses can be obtained by establishing a computer control system for automatic choice of optimal operation of district heating systems. The following elements form part of that choice :
- pump operation
- heat supply from different procedures, including existing district heating
controls
- temperature
- heat storage in pipe network.
A key element in the proposed control system is the utilisation of an on-line simulation model for flow, pressure and temperature conditions in a pipeline network. This will be providedby LICFLOW, a computer code for the simulation of flow, pressure and temperature profiles in pipeline systems of general configurations, branched as well as looped.
The computer system for pump operation will be based on a number of fixed physical data relating to pipeworks, pumps, valves, etc.
In addition, a number of parameters normally constant during a longer period will be regularly updated in the system including the unit price for power, for heat from different producers, for start /stop producers and supply limitations.
On the basis of measurements of flow, temperature, pressure, pressure difference and pump status the computer system will automatically choose the actual optimal operation strategy.
The system will also be able to anticipate variations in consumption. This can be used to form the basis for start/stop of the central producers, change in temperature and heat storage production.
In practice actual pump control can be performed by controlling each pump by local measurements of the pressure difference over the pump.
The computer system will then update set points for all the local regulating loops.
The system provides on-line information on :
- adjustments of set points for pumps and valves
- comparison between actual status and economic energy status off-line information on :
- consequences of using alternative operational strategies
- operational strategy for the next 24 hours.
In five phases, the project is scheduled to begin in March 1986, lasting to mid-1989. Total project cost is DKr 3,700,000 and payback estimated at the five to seven years.
The system is being developed on a microvax computer from Digital Corp. but may be implemented on other computer H/W.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
3460 Birkeroed
Denmark