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Integrating Time Series Into Simulations

Integrating Time Series Into Simulations

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Integration of Time Series

Often the input parameters of a simulation, such as energy consumption, are not constant over time. For example, a heat demand can fluctuate during the course of a day and the changing seasons, since it is dependent on weather conditions such as the outside temperature. In order to reflect these fluctuations in the simulation, TOP-Energy can store variable input parameters (time series). For an overview of time series functions, see the article Quick Access to Time Series. The present article is specifically focused on the input of time-dependent parameters, the specifics of the subsequent simulations, and the viewing of the time series.

Inserting Time Series

The time-variable input parameters are stored and edited with ETA (Engineering Time Series Analyzer). ETA is available for visualizing and editing time series in TOP-Energy. It can also be used as TOP-Energy-independent software for processing time series.

Opening Input Parameters in ETA

As for constant input values, you insert an input parameter that is variable in time in the form view of the component. Time series can be stored in the form of the component for input values, for which the symbol  with the add time series tooltip is displayed to the right of the input field. This shows the following figure using the Heat Demand component as an example.

Click on the icon  to start ETA. In the newly opened ETA window top left, the opened input value now appears in the project explorer in a tree structure (see following figure). ETA first creates a time series with the value entered in the form as a constant. This time series is visible in the plot window. Further information on the user interface of ETA can be found in the linked article.

If a time series has already been stored for a parameter in TOP-Energy, the plot preview button in the form serves to display the time series in TOP-Energy (without reopening the ETA) instead of the add button. On the menu button, a circular red sign with a white minus sign in it indicates that the component part can be removed.

By pressing a button in the Home ribbon, you can open all input time series in the ETA (see the following figure).

Creating Time Series

A new time series can be created for the parameter opened in the Project Explorer. In principle, time series can be generated as follows.

  • Import: in most cases, time series are imported from existing csv, txt, and Excel files as described in this article. A dialog supports the import process and enables data to be preprocessed. For example, erroneous data points can be corrected. This function is available in the Project Ribbon of the ETA in the Import group (see the following figure).
  • Default time series: TOP-Energy contains default time series which can be transferred to the project. This function is available in the Project Ribbon of the ETA in the Import group (see the following figure).

Weather data as well as standard load profiles for electricity demands (power) are available.

The weather data are based on test reference years for different climate regions. The data sets contain meteorological data such as wind speed, temperature, or solar irradiance. In addition to the default time series of the ETA, a direct weather data import from the DWD for Germany is also available for TOP-Energy.

The default load profile for electricity includes data for farms and business enterprises.

  • Creating time series in ETA: you can create your own time series in ETA. The easiest way to do this is to generate time series with a constant, sinusoidal, or random course. In addition, more detailed time series can be generated by a time series synthesis of type days. ETA can be used to manipulate, link, add, or multiply time series. Further information on working with time series can be found in the linked article.
In ETA, you can prepare time series for simulation, e.g., synchronize the input time series. Further information on preprocessing can be found in the linked article.

Transferring Input Parameters to TOP-Energy

Once a time series has been created, it is located in the  Temporary Time Series node in the Project Explorer. You can see this for the Heat_Demand_GFaI_building in the following illustration. To use the generated time series as input parameters in the simulation, you must drag and drop the time series from the Temporary time series node to the open input value Heat demand. This links the input value Heat Demand with the time series Heat_Demand_GFaI_building. Using the button (Transfer data to TOP-Energy, located in the Project ribbon of the ETA in the Project group) the time series is assigned to the TOP-Energy project so that a simulation can be carried out.

Simulation with Time Series

If time series are stored in the input data, a simulation is carried out time-dependently. Time series are also calculated as a result of the simulation. Because the computational effort of the simulation depends on the number of time steps, it is recommended not to use time series with significantly more than 8760 time steps. This corresponds to one year at hourly intervals.

time series

The figure above shows time series with different time periods, from whose intersection the simulation period is generated.

You can also specify before the simulation in the Simulation ribbon in the Filter group to simulate only a part of the available time steps or to filter the simulation times according to a grid (see the following figure).

Viewing Time Series

As soon as a time series is defined as an input parameter, two symbols appear in the form view of the component for this value: .

The ETA button in the menu opened by the menu button, opens the time series for display and editing.

The button  opens a customizable plot preview of the time series in the form (see following figure).

In the menu opened by the menu button, you can delete the time series.

For time-dependent parameters, you can use a drop-down menu in the form view to select which value of the time series is displayed in the form, e.g., Average weighted or Maximum.

After a simulation with time series, you can open all result time series in the ETA from the Home ribbon in TOP-Energy (Engineering Time Series Analyzer group) at the push of a button (see following figure).
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