Power to Heat Systems in Active Electric Distribution Networks
Author
Cheilas, Panagiotis Damianos
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2019
Abstract
The growing share of renewable energy introduces operational uncertainty in power systems. This thesis investigates whether and how power-to-heat systems—heat pumps coupled with hot-water thermal storage—can increase flexibility and support the operation of a Danish low-voltage residential grid with local photovoltaic generation. Two scales are assessed: many individual household heat pumps and a single large, centralized heat pump system. Both operate in ON/OFF mode and are coordinated through simple local controllers that respond to thermal needs and grid conditions without communication networks. Models were built in DIgSILENT PowerFactory with support from MATLAB, and daily simulations for winter and summer days evaluate grid loading, voltages, and PV self-consumption while maintaining thermal comfort. The results indicate that combining heat pumps with thermal storage can shift electric demand, mitigate operational issues, and improve utilization of local PV, thereby enhancing grid flexibility using uncomplicated, local control.
Den stigende integration af vedvarende energi skaber usikkerhed i driften af elnettet. Denne afhandling undersøger, om og hvordan Power-to-Heat-systemer—varmepumper koblet til varmtvandslagre—kan øge fleksibiliteten og støtte driften af et dansk lavspændingsnet med lokal solcelleproduktion. To skalaer analyseres: mange individuelle husstandsvarmepumper og ét større, centralt varmepumpesystem. Begge opererer som ON/OFF-enheder og koordineres med simple lokale styringer, der reagerer på varmebehov og netforhold uden kommunikation. Modeller er opbygget i DIgSILENT PowerFactory med støtte fra MATLAB, og daglige simuleringer for vinter- og sommerdage vurderer belastninger, spændinger og selvforbrug af PV, samtidig med at den termiske komfort opretholdes. Resultaterne peger på, at koblingen af varmepumper og varmelagre kan flytte elforbrug, afhjælpe driftsudfordringer og øge udnyttelsen af lokal PV, hvilket forbedrer netflexibiliteten ved hjælp af ukomplicerede, lokale styringer.
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