Dynamic simulation of heat losses in a district heating system: A case study in Wales

Abstract

District heating (DH) is a promising energy solution to alleviate environmental negative impacts caused by fossil fuels. Improving the performance of DH systems is one of the major challenges to promote larger scale adoption. This paper presents a dynamic simulation of a DH distribution network located in Ebbw Vale, south Wales. A numerical simulation model is developed in Simscape/Simulink to analyze heat losses in the distribution network at different periods of the week. Results show that heat losses in the network vary between 1-2% during weekday daytime, while they increase to 8-12% at night. Supply and return temperatures of each building are presented and simulation results are in line with measured data. In addition, node flow rates and node temperatures are analyzed. This model can be used to provide reference for selecting the best pipe configuration, including size and insulation materials to minimize heat losses.