Method and system for balancing mass flow during production failure or insufficiency in a district heating network

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 at 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 in each substation being controlled by a heat curve which defines a calculated supply temperature (Tsupply, calc) for the space heating circuit on the secondary side of the sub station as a function of a measured outdoor temperature (Toutdoor), wherein the method comprises the steps of, for each substation in the district heating network:

• a) measuring an outdoor temperature (Toutdoor) and setting an emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) equal to the measured outdoor temperature;
• b) establishing a first control temperature (THcc) and a second control temperature (Tpc);
• c) determining the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply, calc) on the secondary side of the substation from the heat curve ƒ based on the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive);
• d) measuring a supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation;
• e) comparing the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply, calc) on the secondary side of the substation with the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation;
• if the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply, calc) on the secondary side of the substation is higher than the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation, setting the first control temperature (THcc) equal to the inverse ƒ−1 of the heat curve calculated with the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation as input value;
• or
• if the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply, calc) on the secondary side of the substation is lower than or equal to the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation, setting the first control temperature (THcc) equal to the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive);
• wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
• f) measuring at least one variable associated with a power outtake for each substation, respectively;
• g) calculating a statistical distribution of said at least one variable associated with the power outtake for the entire population of substations;
• h) comparing the current calculated statistical distribution with a statistical distribution from an earlier time with sufficient production;
• and
• if the current calculated statistical distribution differs from the earlier statistical distribution at sufficient production, increasing the second control temperature (Tpc) by a correction factor (ΔTpc);
• or
• if the current calculated statistical distribution is equal to the earlier statistical distribution at sufficient production, maintaining the second control temperature (Tpc);
• i) calculate a valve control temperature (Tvc) for each substation, respectively, as a function g of the first control temperature (THcc) for the respective substation and the second control temperature (Tpc);
• and
• j) update the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) for each substation, respectively, by setting it equal to the valve control temperature (Tvc) for the respective substation, and use the updated emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) for each substation to control the valve in the respective substation.

A system 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 at 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 in each substation being controlled by a heat curve ƒ which defines 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), wherein the system comprises:

• processing circuitry;
• a memory, wherein said memory contains instructions executable by said processing circuitry;
• and
• means for communicating with each substation in the district heating network, wherein the system is operative for, for each substation in the district heating network:
• a) measuring an outdoor temperature (Toutdoor) and setting an emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) equal to the measured outdoor temperature;
• b) establishing a first control temperature (THcc) and a second control temperature (Tpc);
• c) determining the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply,calc) on the secondary side of the substation from the heat curve ƒ based on the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive);
• d) measuring a supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation;
• e) comparing the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply,calc) on the secondary side of the substation with the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation;
• if the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply,calc) on the secondary side of the substation is higher than the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation, setting the first control temperature (THcc) equal to the inverse ƒ1 of the heat curve calculated with the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation as input value;
• or
• if the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply,calc) on the secondary side of the substation is lower than or equal to the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation, setting the first control temperature (THcc) equal to the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive);
• wherein the system is further operative for:
• f) measuring at least one variable associated with a power outtake for each substation, respectively;
• g) calculating a statistical distribution of said at least one variable associated with the power outtake for the entire population of substations;
• h) comparing the current calculated statistical distribution with a statistical distribution from an earlier time with sufficient production;
• and
• if the current calculated statistical distribution differs from the earlier statistical distribution at sufficient production, increasing the second control temperature (TPC) by a correction factor (ΔTPC);
• or
• if the current calculated statistical distribution is equal to the earlier statistical distribution at sufficient production, maintaining the second control temperature (TPc);
• i) calculating a valve control temperature (TVC) for each substation, respectively, as a function g of the first control temperature (THcc) for the respective substation and the second control temperature (TPc);
• and
• j) updating the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) for each substation, respectively, by setting it equal to the valve control temperature (TVC)C for the respective substation and use the updated emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) for each substation to control the valve in the respective substation.

A computer program comprising computer readable code means intended to be executed in a system 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 at 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 in each substation being controlled by a heat curve ƒ 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), wherein said computer readable code means when executed in the system causes the system to perform the following steps, for each substation in the district heating network:

• a) measuring an outdoor temperature (Toutdoor) and setting an emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) equal to the measured outdoor temperature;
• b) establishing a first control temperature (THcc) and a second control temperature (TPc);
• c) determining the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply;calc) on the secondary side of the substation from the heat −1 based on the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive);
• d) measuring a supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation;
• e) comparing the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply,calc) on the secondary side of the substation with the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation;
• if the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply,calc) on the secondary side of the substation is higher than the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation, setting the first control temperature (THcc) equal to the inverse ƒ−1 of the heat curve calculated with the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation as input value;
• or
• if the calculated supply temperature (Tsupply, calc) on the secondary side of the substation is lower than or equal to the measured supply temperature (Tsupply) on the primary side of the substation, setting the first control temperature (THcc) equal to the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive);
• wherein the system is further caused to perform the steps of:
• f) measuring at least one variable associated with a power outtake for each substation, respectively;
• g) calculating a statistical distribution of said at least one variable associated with the power outtake for the entire population of substations;
• h) comparing the current calculated statistical distribution with a statistical distribution from an earlier time with sufficient production;
• and
• if the current calculated statistical distribution differs from the earlier statistical distribution at sufficient production, increasing the second control temperature (TPc) by a correction factor (.ΔTPc);
• or
• if the current calculated statistical distribution is equal to the earlier statistical distribution at sufficient production, maintaining the second control temperature (TPc);
• i) calculating a valve control temperature (TVC) for each substation, respectively, as a function g of the first control temperature (THcc) for the respective substation and the second control temperature (Tpc);
• and
• j) updating the emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) for each substation, respectively, by setting it equal to the valve control temperature (TVC) for the respective substation and using the updated emulated outdoor temperature (Tactive) for each substation to control the valve in the respective substation.