Communication-Based Distributed Control of Large-Scale District Heating Networks

This paper presents a non-cooperative distributed model predictive controller for the control of large-scale District Heating Networks. To enable the design of this controller, a novel information transmission scheme and feasibility restoration method are created, allowing the local controllers to achieve a global consensus while minimizing a local cost function. The effectiveness of this controller is demonstrated on an 18-user District Heating Network decomposed into six subsystems. The results show that the developed control scheme effectively uses flexibility to manage the buildings’ heat demands, reducing the total losses by 14% and the return temperature by 37%.