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

Abstract

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.