modelConnectionCondensatePipe

Connection for a steam district heating network featuring the condensate return pipe

Extends from Buildings.DHC.Networks.BaseClasses.PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium (Partial model for connecting an agent to a two-pipe distribution network with two medium declarations).

Information

This network connection model contains one pipe declaration for the condensate pipe, featuring a fixed hydraulic resistance. This model is intended for steam heating systems that utilize a split-medium approach with two separate medium declarations between liquid and vapor states.

In this model, it is assumed that there are no mass losses in the network connection. Further, heat transfer with the external environment and transport delays are also not included.

References

Kathryn Hinkelman, Saranya Anbarasu, Michael Wetter, Antoine Gautier, Wangda Zuo. 2022. “A Fast and Accurate Modeling Approach for Water and Steam Thermodynamics with Practical Applications in District Heating System Simulation,” Energy, 254(A), pp. 124227. 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124227

Kathryn Hinkelman, Saranya Anbarasu, Michael Wetter, Antoine Gautier, Baptiste Ravache, Wangda Zuo 2022. “Towards Open-Source Modelica Models For Steam-Based District Heating Systems.” Proc. of the 1st International Workshop On Open Source Modelling And Simulation Of Energy Systems (OSMSES 2022), Aachen, German, April 4-5, 2022. 10.1109/OSMSES54027.2022.9769121

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Realn2Flow exponent, n=1 for laminar, n=2 for turbulent
General › Nominal condition
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatemDis_flow_nominal (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Nominal mass flow rate in the distribution line
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatemCon_flow_nominal (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Nominal mass flow rate in the connection line
Assumptions
BooleanallowFlowReversal (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)false= true to allow flow reversal, false restricts to design direction (port_a -> port_b)
Dynamics › Equations
Modelica.Fluid.Types.DynamicsenergyDynamics (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Modelica.Fluid.Types.Dynamics.FixedInitialType of energy balance: dynamic (3 initialization options) or steady state
Dynamics › Nominal condition
Modelica.Units.SI.Timetau (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)10Time constant at nominal flow for dynamic energy and momentum balance
Nominal condition
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedp_nominalPressure drop at nominal mass flow rate

Connectors

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_aport_aDisSup (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Distribution supply inlet port
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_bport_bDisSup (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Distribution supply outlet port
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_aport_aDisRet (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Distribution return inlet port
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_bport_bDisRet (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Distribution return outlet port
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_bport_bCon (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Connection supply port
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_aport_aCon (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Connection return port

Components

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Model_pipDisSuppipDisSup (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Distribution supply pipe
Model_pipDisRetpipDisRet (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Distribution return pipe
Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.JunctionjunConSup (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Junction with connection supply
Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.JunctionjunConRet (from PartialConnection2Pipe2Medium)Junction with connection return
Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.PressureDroppipConRetConnection return pipe

Revisions

  • June 17, 2026, by Michael Wetter:
    Updated implementation to allow a flow coefficient n that is different from 2. This allows use of the model for not fully turbulent flow.
    This is for Buildings, #4620.
  • September 15, 2023, by Kathryn Hinkelman:
    Updated publication references.
  • March 2, 2022, by Kathryn Hinkelman:
    First implementation.