Dispatch of Electricity-Heat Clusters With Elaborated Virtual Heat Storage Modelling of Ring Heat Network

The electricity-heat integrated energy system is shifting to a distributed architecture that integrates multiple energy clusters to maximize the utilization of local energy resources, such as solar, wind, and low-grade waste heat. However, the many clusters create challenges for cooperative dispatch, and the storage potential of the connected heat network requires further investigation. This paper develops an optimal dispatch strategy based on virtual heat storage (VHS) modeling of a ring heat network (RHN) to improve heat sharing among clusters. A centralized dispatch framework is developed to enhance collaboration, with the RHN represented as a VHS model in a variable flow and variable temperature (VF-VT) operating mode for thermal storage and heat transfer. The VHS can be considered as an intermediate component that engages in dispatch optimization. Therefore, the nonlinear and non-convex dispatch model is solved in a simplified manner through a proposed two-layer approach: the outer layer optimizes the dispatch strategy based on VHS storage parameters, while the inner layer calculates the RHN operation temperature and flow based on energy interactions to update the VHS model parameters. Simulation results show that the VHS model offers advantages in problem-solving, and the dispatch strategy enhances flexible interactions among clusters.