Model Predictive Control as a System Integrator in a Heat Pump-Driven District Heating Network
Though often seen as distinct ways to decarbonise the (residential) heating sector, heat pumps and district heating can complement each other. Their integration is crucial for decarbonizing current and future district heating networks. However, as these integrated systems tend to become very complex, today’s rule-based controllers might lead to suboptimal operation and low system efficiencies. This article shows the potential of model predictive control to increase the efficiency of a heat pump-driven district heating network at equal or better thermal comfort.