Development of a detailed simulation model to support evaluation of water-loadshifting across a range of use patterns

Kelly, Nicolas and Samuel, Aizaz and Tuohy, Paul Gerard (2014) Development of a detailed simulation model to support evaluation of water-loadshifting across a range of use patterns. In: International Conference of Enhanced Building Operations, ICEBO 2014, 2014-09-14 - 2014-09-17.

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Abstract

As electrical power networks become increasingly dominated by intermittent renewable generation both at the grid level and decentralised, their operation presents new challenges. One mechanism that has been proposed as a potential solution is demand shifting of loads. This potential for load shifting is difficult to assess given variations and uncertainties in user behaviour and weather particularly for modern hybrid systems, which often include weather dependent solar and heat pump systems and complex controls. This paper provides details of an integrated building simulation modelling approach intended to support load shifting studies, with a specific focus on the load shifting potential of hybrid domestic hot water storage systems. The example domestic hot water system investigated here comprises an air source heat pump coupled with solar thermal collectors and a storage tank featuring supplementary immersion heating for control of Legionella and top up heating. The hybrid hot water system and its controls are explicitly modelled at a level of detail sufficient to closely replicate the actual system behaviour. User behaviour in this case affecting the quantity and timing of hot water draws has the potential to strongly influence water heating requirements, the solar hot water system effectiveness, and the potential for load shifting. The development of a set of stochastic water draw profiles to represent an appropriate range of behaviours for the UK context is described. These different domestic hot water use patterns are then made available to facilitate the evaluation, in a detailed building and hybrid energy system model, of load shifting potential and effectiveness across a representative range of weather and behaviour. While the case study presented here is for a specific situation, it is proposed that the methodology is more generally applicable.

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