Linear and neural network-based models for short-term heat load forecasting

Potočnik, Primož (author), Strmčnik, Ervin (author), Govekar, Edvard (author)

Successful operation of a district heating system requires optimal scheduling of heating resources to satisfy heating demands. The optimal operation, therefore, requires accurate short-term forecasts of future heat load. In this paper, short-term forecasting of heat load in a district heating system of Ljubljana is presented. Heat load data and weather-related influential variables for five subsequent winter seasons of district heating operation are applied in this study. Various linear models and nonlinear neural network-based forecasting models are developed to forecast the future daily heat load with the forecasting horizon one day ahead. The models are evaluated based on generalization error, obtained on an independent test data set. Results demonstrate the importance of outdoor temperature as the most important influential variable. Other influential inputs include solar radiation and extracted features denoting population activities (such as day of the week). Comparison of forecasting models reveals good forecasting performance of a linear stepwise regression model (SR) that utilizes only a subset of the most relevant input variables. The operation of the SR model was improved by using neural network (NN) models, and also NN models with a direct linear link (NNLL). The latter showed the overall best forecasting performance, which suggests that NN or the proposed NNLL structures should be considered as forecasting solutions for applied forecasting in district heating markets.

• Language: English
• Keywords: district heating, heat load forecasting, feature extraction, stepwise regression, autoregressive model, neural networks
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2015
• Number of pages: Str. 543-550, SI 99
• Numbering: Vol. 61, no. 9
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-106553
• UDC: 681.5(045)
• ISSN on article: 0039-2480
• URN: URN:NBN:SI:doc-6F110GT4
• DOI: 10.5545/sv-jme.2015.2548
• COBISS.SI-ID: 14183195
• Publication date in RUL: 05.03.2019

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Strojniški vestnik
• Shortened title: Stroj. vestn.
• Publisher: Zveza strojnih inženirjev in tehnikov Slovenije [etc.], = Association of Mechanical Engineers and Technicians of Slovenia [etc.
• ISSN: 0039-2480
• COBISS.SI-ID: 762116

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian

Abstract

Raziskava obravnava problematiko kratkoročnega napovedovanja odjema toplote v sistemu daljinskega ogrevanja. Kakovostne napovedi odjema toplote v vročevodnem sistemu so zelo pomembne s stališča učinkovite rabe energije, ki zahteva usklajevanje prihodnih potreb odjemalcev ter proizvodnje in dobave ustreznih količin toplote. Napovedovanje odjema toplote sodi zaradi prisotnosti kompleksnih procesov med zahtevnejše naloge daljinskega ogrevanja, kratkoročne napovedi pa so direktno uporabne za učinkovito krmiljenje in optimizacijo sistema daljinskega ogrevanja.

• Keywords: daljinsko ogrevanje, napovedovanje odjema toplote, izpeljava značilk, stopenjska regresija, avtoregresijski model, nevronske mreže

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0241
• Name: Sinergetika kompleksnih sistemov in procesov