Modelling and simulation of transient states in the heat distribution network

In many situations flow oscillatory behaviours in the heat distribution network occur. Like other instability phenomena, hydraulic flow oscillations are undesirable. Simulation experiments may be very helpful to predict which kind of control actions and disturbances this phenomenon may occur for. In the paper a general case of the heat (hot water) distribution network is considered-including the central plant and the supply/return pipeline system. A new mathematical model of the supply/return pipeline system is proposed treating this one as a certain kind of the counterflow system with distributed parameters. The method of lines has been used to program a numerical solution of the mathematical model. The aim of the simulation experiments consists in the studies of the heat distribution network transient response dependence on several disturbances, control actions and process parameter changes. The results of the experiment for a real-world example are also presented