ON THE NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF THERMAL NE TWORKS

The essay describes some possibilities for the numerical simulation of arbitrary meshed thermal networks. Based on a graph-theoretical appro ach the balance equations at the knots of the network are formulated. The resulting system of equations describing the volumetric streams in the network is nonlinear and is solved by suitable numerical methods. Knowing the distribution of the volumetric streams the thermal balanc es can be calculated. With the proposed method as well steady as dynam ical states may be simulated and analyzed. It therefore provides a sui table tool both, in operating and planing thermical networks and in in vestigating control and optimizing control strategies in thermal netwo rks. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by the simulation of a real-sized thermal network using the simulation language Smile.