Real-Time Thermal Energy Modeling and Simulation: Information helps make decisions, cut costs

摘要

Times are changing for most district energy utilities. The majority are managing and operating expanding and increasingly complex systems of different ages with a static level of resources and, at the same time, meeting increasing demands for safety, sustainability, reliability and efficiency. Working harder does not necessarily do the job; working smarter is more likely to bring success. This is where information technology, and in particular, real-time thermal energy modeling and simulation (RTTMS) can make a difference - putting accurate, realtime 'decision-ready' information into the hands of district energy system staff, enabling them to execute sustainable, cost-efficient decisions at the management, tactical and operational levels. Whereas in the past, utility operators have often made decisions based largely on their experience ("because we know it works"), they now have the opportunity to use experience in combination with information for the best possible result.