Dynamic simulation and control of the heat supply system of a civic building with thermal energy storage units

Abstract

The integration of low-carbon energy solutions into heating and cooling systems is a growing topic of interest towards the decarbonisation of the energy sector. The complexity of interactions between thermal-hydraulic components in these systems requires moving from a steady-state analysis to a dynamic approach. Commercial dynamic process simulators provide a good platform to model and simulate the physics phenomena of these components. However, co-simulation between software engines is often necessary to incorporate process control systems and regulate key system variables. This paper presents the co-simulation of a real heating application from a civil building for health services integrating thermal energy storage (TES) units. A detailed dynamic model of the heating system under study is developed in Apros, a commercial dynamic process simulator. The process control system responsible for regulating the hydraulic pumps, valves, and heat sources is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. The TES system is operated by the process control system based on a daily schedule, achieving a reduced utilisation of the heat generation units during peak-demand hours.