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Integration of ground-source heat pumps in combined district heating and cooling networks: A holistic modeling framework

Abugabbara, Marwan LU orcid ; Alberdi-Pagola, Maria ; Javed, Saqib LU and Erbs Poulsen, Søren (2022) European Geothermal Congress
Abstract
The integration of heat pumps in low-enthalpy district heating and cooling networks can increase the efficiency and flexibility of the network. In such systems, heat pumps are installed both locally and centrally to serve different functions. In the former case, decentralized heat pumps at each building adjust the low-network temperature to the desired supply temperature. In the latter case, a central and relatively large-scale heat pump functions as a heat source or a heat sink to the ground. The main benefits of such technology are the reduction of the network operating temperature, the ability to supply simultaneous heating and cooling by operating the heat pumps in either heating or cooling mode, and the increased potential to... (More)
The integration of heat pumps in low-enthalpy district heating and cooling networks can increase the efficiency and flexibility of the network. In such systems, heat pumps are installed both locally and centrally to serve different functions. In the former case, decentralized heat pumps at each building adjust the low-network temperature to the desired supply temperature. In the latter case, a central and relatively large-scale heat pump functions as a heat source or a heat sink to the ground. The main benefits of such technology are the reduction of the network operating temperature, the ability to supply simultaneous heating and cooling by operating the heat pumps in either heating or cooling mode, and the increased potential to integrate low-enthalpy shallow geothermal energy for heat generation and heat storage. One technical challenge in accelerating the implementation of this technology is the complexity of modeling the entire district network including all its components. A holistic modeling framework based on the equation-based objected-oriented Modelica language is presented in this paper. We first describe the three component models included in the framework,
namely, the building substations, the distribution pipes, and the shallow geothermal bore field. Then, an example of a campus area consisting of eight buildings with varying heating and cooling demands is presented to apply the modeling framework and to demonstrate the expected mechanism by which such systems may operate. Simulation results indicate that high system performance can be attained when 1) the building supply temperature is controlled using demand-based temperature control curves, 2) the network operates at low-temperature close to the ground temperature, and 3) the bore field is balanced with sufficient heat injection to the ground. For future investigations, the modeling framework should be extended to cover the economic and the environmental impact of such systems due to the importance of these aspects in the planning of energy systems. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
European Geothermal Congress 2022
pages
9 pages
publisher
European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)
conference name
European Geothermal Congress
conference location
Berlin, Germany
conference dates
2022-10-17 - 2022-10-21
ISBN
978-2-9601946-2-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4fe0f871-5653-4118-9d2a-526e5f37cbc9
alternative location
https://www.egec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Abugabbara-Integration-of-ground-source-heat-pumps-in-combined-district-heating-and-cooling-networks-137_ExtAbstract.pdf
date added to LUP
2023-03-07 12:38:22
date last changed
2023-03-17 13:36:59
@inproceedings{4fe0f871-5653-4118-9d2a-526e5f37cbc9,
  abstract     = {{The integration of heat pumps in low-enthalpy district heating and cooling networks can increase the efficiency and flexibility of the network. In such systems, heat pumps are installed both locally and centrally to serve different functions. In the former case, decentralized heat pumps at each building adjust the low-network temperature to the desired supply temperature. In the latter case, a central and relatively large-scale heat pump functions as a heat source or a heat sink to the ground. The main benefits of such technology are the reduction of the network operating temperature, the ability to supply simultaneous heating and cooling by operating the heat pumps in either heating or cooling mode, and the increased potential to integrate low-enthalpy shallow geothermal energy for heat generation and heat storage. One technical challenge in accelerating the implementation of this technology is the complexity of modeling the entire district network including all its components. A holistic modeling framework based on the equation-based objected-oriented Modelica language is presented in this paper. We first describe the three component models included in the framework,<br/>namely, the building substations, the distribution pipes, and the shallow geothermal bore field. Then, an example of a campus area consisting of eight buildings with varying heating and cooling demands is presented to apply the modeling framework and to demonstrate the expected mechanism by which such systems may operate. Simulation results indicate that high system performance can be attained when 1) the building supply temperature is controlled using demand-based temperature control curves, 2) the network operates at low-temperature close to the ground temperature, and 3) the bore field is balanced with sufficient heat injection to the ground. For future investigations, the modeling framework should be extended to cover the economic and the environmental impact of such systems due to the importance of these aspects in the planning of energy systems.}},
  author       = {{Abugabbara, Marwan and Alberdi-Pagola, Maria and Javed, Saqib and Erbs Poulsen, Søren}},
  booktitle    = {{European Geothermal Congress 2022}},
  isbn         = {{978-2-9601946-2-3}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)}},
  title        = {{Integration of ground-source heat pumps in combined district heating and cooling networks: A holistic modeling framework}},
  url          = {{https://www.egec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Abugabbara-Integration-of-ground-source-heat-pumps-in-combined-district-heating-and-cooling-networks-137_ExtAbstract.pdf}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}