Temperature prediction at critical points in district heating systems

Current methodologies for the optimal operation of district heating systems use model predictive control. Accurate forecasting of the water temperature at critical points is crucial for meeting constraints related to consumers while minimizing the production costs for the heat supplier. A new forecasting methodology based on conditional Finite Impulse Response (cFIR) models is introduced, for which model coefficients are replaced by coefficient functions of the water flux at the supply point and of the time of day, allowing for nonlinear variations of the time delays. Appropriate estimation methods for both are described. Results are given for the test case of the Roskilde district heating system over a period of more than 6 years. The advantages of the proposed forecasting methodology in terms of a higher forecast accuracy, its use for simulation purposes, or alternatively for better understanding transfer functions of district heating systems, are clearly shown.