Method and system for balancing mass flow during production failure or insufficiency in a district heating network
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Solution Overview
Problem
In district heating networks, production failures or insufficiencies lead to decreased mass flow and temperature at substations far from thermal power plants, causing pressure drops and inadequate power distribution, which existing methods fail to adequately address, especially in segmented networks.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves measuring outdoor temperatures, establishing control temperatures, and calculating valve control temperatures based on heat curves and statistical distributions of power outtake variables across all substations, allowing for coordinated control of valves to maintain mass flow and power distribution without relying on pressure difference measurements or individual substation characterization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If substations at near-end locations increase mass flow by opening valves to maintain power outtake during production insufficiency, then power distribution to near-end properties is maintained, but pressure difference drop increases causing inadequate distribution to end-of-line substations
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the control parameter from individual substation power maintenance to population-level mass flow balancing. By adjusting valve positions based on outdoor temperature and statistical power distribution, the system modifies flow parameters to prevent excessive pressure drops while maintaining acceptable power delivery to all substations during production insufficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from outdoor temperature measurements and statistical analysis of power outtake distribution across the substation population to dynamically adjust valve positions. This feedback mechanism enables coordinated control that responds to changing conditions while maintaining balanced mass flow throughout the network
2Power
If individual substations control valves independently to maintain their power outtake, then local power demand is met, but end-of-line substations experience collapsed mass flow due to cumulative pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The control system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains power outtake for individual substations based on their heating demand while also ensuring adequate mass flow delivery to end-of-line substations. The unified control approach based on outdoor temperature and statistical power distribution enables this multi-objective optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges individual substation control decisions into a coordinated population-level control strategy. By combining outdoor temperature data with statistical power distribution analysis, the system creates a unified control approach that replaces independent substation control, preventing cumulative pressure drops while meeting local demands
3Quantity of substance
If existing hydraulic balancing methods based on central mass flow measurement are used, then overall network balance is achieved, but end-of-line problems during production failure are not adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality control by adjusting valve positions at individual substations based on their specific position in the network and local heating demand. The statistical power distribution analysis identifies patterns that reveal end-of-line conditions, enabling targeted control adjustments that maintain service levels at vulnerable locations while preserving overall network balance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method ensures balanced mass flow and power distribution across all substations, maintaining service levels even at far-end locations during production insufficiencies, without the need for direct control of pumping stations or global mass flow measurements, and applies corrective actions uniformly across all consumers.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger having a primary side connected to the district heating network for transferring heat between the district heating network and the substation, a secondary side connected to at least one space heating circuit
Implementation Method 2
transferring the heat between the district heating network and the substation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for balancing mass flow during production failure or insufficiency in a district heating network comprising a plurality of substations, each substation comprising at least one primary side connected to the district heating network for transferring heat between the district heating network and the substation, a secondary side connected to least one space heating circuit for heating at least one space connected to the substation, and an adjustable valve arranged between the substation and the district heating network, the valve (102) in each substation being controlled by a heat curve f defining a calculated supply temperature (Tsupply, calc) for the space heating circuit on the secondary side of the substation as a function of a measured outdoor temperature (Toutdoor). The method further comprises a step of heat curve compensation for each substation and population compensation for all substations in the population. The result is then used to control the valve in the respective substation.