DHC Load Management Using Demand Forecast

The optimal management of a district heating addresses problems such as the optimization of the pumping in supply energy and minimization of heat losses. Demand forecasts are based on historical data and heat losses are generally calculated developing a model based on the topology of the district network. The variability of the users’ load brings situations where predicted information becomes very useful while managing different possibilities in supplying that energy.Once the different possibilities for energy generation and the forecasted energy demand are known it is required to develop a model to calculate the future associated heat losses in the district network according with the expected demand.A network operator that dispose information about the future behavior in the DHC would be able to manage and optimize the energy generation of the power plant as much as minimize the cost of the pumping station and the heat losses without reduction in service quality.