Modeling, optimization and analysis of hydronic networks with decentralized pumping

A new concept of decentralized pumping in residential heating and cooling systems has been proposed in recent years and it is generally declared to save pumping energy. A set of tools has been derived in order to verify this proposition. A graph modeling method altogether with a network flow solver and pumping energy optimization solver are presented in the paper. The center-point, however, lies in a power consumption analysis of throttling (supply oriented, central) systems and decentralized pumping (demand oriented, distributed) systems. A pumping strategy comparison for a sample residential hydronic network illustrates the modeling approach and power optimization results.