Re: [TRNSYS-users] Problem with high temperature peaks in model

Hi everyone,

I have built a model with a heat pump that can operate in two different modes:

Mode 1: The heat pump directly supplies the heating cycle

Mode 2: The heat pump supplies a storage tank and the heating cycle is supplied through the tank.

The supply temperature for my heating cycle, as well as the return temperature and the mass flow are calculated in advance and supplied through the Input file.

The system looks like this:

So what does the heat pump do?

Mode 1: Incoming and outgoing mass flow are the same, determined by the input file. The incoming fluid temperature is the same as the outgoing temperature of the Heating cycle. This temperature Is raised by 5K and the outgoing temperature of the heat pump is the same as the incoming temperature of the Heating cycle. These temperatures are also determined by the input file, calculated in advance.

The diverter and mixer control signals are set by the heat pump. So this means 0 for the diverter and 1 for the mixer on the heat pump site, 0 for the mixer and 1 for the diverter on the heating cycle site. The bypass flowrate on the heating cycle site should be 0, as the supply temperature is already correct. So the control signal “Fraction to heatsource” from the valve to the diverter should be 1.

Mode 2: The storage tank should be supplied until it reaches a setpoint (55°C). Therefore the maximal mass flow (2000 kg/hr) runs through the heat pump and is heated with the maximum Power. Meanwhile the heating cycle needs to be supplied with water from the storage tank, Supply temperature, mass flow and return temperature are determined by the input file. Delta T is again 5 K.
The water from the storage tank has a higher temperature than the target for the heating cycle and needs to be cooled with the bypass flow. The control signals are set opposite as in mode 1 and the control signal for the bypass diverter is set by the tempering valve (Fraction to heat source = 0…1).

What is my problem?
It doesn’t work. I have huge temperature spikes (up to 20.000°C) in my streams and I don’t know where they come from.
In mode 1 this results in too high temperatures coming in to the heat pump, 5K are added and the temperature arriving on the heating cycle site are too high, so that the bypass starts mixing in “cold water” (which is already higher than the target temperature). But in mode 1, the bypass should never be letting through fluid and it should be one large outer circuit.

I have tried to calculate the control signal for the bypass diverter within an equation as follows:

ctrl_signl_bypass = GE(fraction_to_heatsource,heating_cylce_Diverter_ctrl_signl)* fraction_to_heatsource + GT(heating_cylce_Diverter_ctrl_signl, fraction_to_heatsource)

This might be incorrect as well. But I have tried a lot of different combinations and the result is always wrong (only in different ways 😃)

I would be so grateful if anyone could help me, as I’m stuck here since days, tried a lot of stuff and nothing seems to help.
I have the feeling, the system can’t cope with the two different circuits and the inconsistent mass flows (which varies, as the delivered energy isn’t constant but delta T is always 5K).

If you have any questions feel free to ask, the whole system is even more complex and I tried to break it down as good as I could.

Best regards,
Jan

-- *************************** David BRADLEY Principal Thermal Energy System Specialists, LLC 3 North Pinckney Street - suite 202 Madison, WI 53703 USA P:+1.608.274.2577 d.bradley@tess-inc.com http://www.tess-inc.com http://www.trnsys.com