Short term optimization of district heating network supply temperatures

The increasing challenges in district heating operational optimization are briefly discussed. The paper describes the first steps in a research project on minimization of short term operational costs in a full scale district heating system. Based on a test model describing a part of a real district heating network, and a chosen approximate dynamic programming technique, simulations are used to illustrate and validate the fundamentals of the modelling and optimization approaches. It is concluded that the considered methods provide an adequate set of tools for the design of optimal network loading. The project is currently continuing with building of a more realistic dynamic model of the full-scale energy network and its components.