Abstract This paper presents a practical method for the auxiliary electric heating system (EHS) at the heat exchange station, considering the virtual heat storage properties of the heating pipe network and its structures. The initial step involves developing and quantifying virtual heat storage models for the heating pipe network, which are influenced by the adjustable parameters of the water supply temperature, as well as for the buildings, which rely on the adjustable characteristics of the indoor temperature. The EHS, specifically the heat pump system with heat storage, along with the combined heat and power unit, is then modeled. Following this, an optimal operational model is established, taking into account the variations in electricity prices. In the end, a numerical example is presented to demonstrate the model’s efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reduced carbon footprint. The simulation results indicate that this method can fully leverage the regulatory potential of virtual heat storage within both the heating network and the buildings, enhancing the advantageous aspects of EHSs while significantly lowering the overall operating costs of the system. The integration of the heat storage system results in a reduction in total costs, carbon emission costs, gas expenses, and electricity purchase costs compared to scenarios without the heat storage system. With participation of the heat storage system, total cost, carbon emission cost, gas cost, and electricity purchase cost of the system are reduced by 7.75%, 2.94%, 9.75%, and 14%, respectively.
Sharbat et al. (Thu,) studied this question.