Thermal modeling for the estimation of energy losses from municipal heating networks using infrared thermography

Author

Axelsson, Sune R.J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron. Syst., SAAB-SCANIA, Linkoping, Sweden

Volume

26

Issue

5

fYear

1988

fDate

9/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

686

Lastpage

692

Abstract

Analysis and simulation results are reported showing that there generally is a strong correlation between the thermal IR (infrared) contrast of a district heating line and its heat losses. A computer model based on the method of finite differences is described by which the temperature field and the heat flux around a buried heating line can be predicted. Algorithms are derived for the estimation of energy losses using thermal IR imagery as input data. The most promising algorithm is based on an integration of the surface temperature profile across the heating line. Under favorable conditions, it seems possible to estimate heat losses with an error (RMS) of 10 to 20% and a sensitivity of 10 to 20 W/m. The main limitations of the technique and the choice of favorable conditions for data acquisition are analyzed and discussed

Keywords

difference equations; district heating; heat losses; infrared imaging; power system analysis computing; remote sensing; terrestrial heat; IR method; building; buried heating line; computer model; data acquisition; district heating line; energy efficiency; energy loss; finite differences; heat flux; heat loss; home; house; infrared thermography; insulation; municipal heating networks; remote sensing; surface temperature profile; technique; temperature field; thermal model; thermal pollution; Analytical models; Computational modeling; Data acquisition; Data analysis; Energy loss; Finite difference methods; Infrared heating; Prediction algorithms; Predictive models; Temperature sensors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.7695

Filename

7695