Digitalization of heating networks: Maximum energy efficiency for energy suppliers

More and more municipal utilities are offering district heating, which isan environmentally friendly alternative to conventional heating. Nevertheless,even a district heating network is not free of inefficiencies and it isnot possible to completely prevent energy from escaping from the system. In mostcases, important real-time data on the network status, which isnecessary for efficient control, as well as a comprehensive overview ofthe consumption of individual meters in order to be able to identify inefficiencies quickly and comprehensively, is missing.

At this year's Stadtwerke Impact Day, which took place at the end of January, Mr. Finck, Head of Technical Service Electricity at Stadtwerke Göttingen, presented how they tackled this problem: The first step in 2018 wasto find an IoT LoRaWAN partner in PHYSEC GmbH from Bochum, which supported Stadtwerke in replacing the old heat meters with intelligent and remotely readable heat quantity sensors. The new meters were networked via the municipalutility's own LoRaWAN network in conjunction with PHYSEC's IoTree platform. In the second step, GreenPocket was then brought in as a visualization and software expert in 2021 so that Göttingen can efficiently monitor, analyze and calculate the data. Both partners presented the advantages and possibilities of their solutions in a joint presentation:

PHYSEC: Secure networking through LoRaWAN network

• Optimum network coverage: special software simulates wireless network
• Platform and network offer the highest security standards
• IoTree platform provides real-time data on output, flow rate, volume, energy and flow and return temperatures
• The integrated optimization application, which was developed together with Stadtwerke Göttingen, makes inefficiencies in the district heating network visible

GreenPocket: Maximum energyefficiency through transparency

• Received data is fed into GreenPocket's energy management software
• Clear comparison and efficiency analyses as well as intelligent alarms support monitoring of load profile data
• Formula editor enables flexible calculation of several time series, including non-energy-related ones
• System monitoring (e.g. monitoring of CHP units) to detect inefficiencies

Numerous advantages frombundling expertise

By bundling the two areas of expertise of PHYSEC and GreenPocket, municipalutilities and energy suppliers benefit in several ways:

• Reduction in flow and return temperatures
• Personnel savings through automated meter reading and automated monitoring
• Proven energy savings in the heating networks
• Cost reduction through increased energy efficiency
• Quick and easy identification of heat losses or inefficiencies in buildings and systems

At SID22, Mr Finck confirmed that the data-driven optimization atStadtwerke Göttingen is already clearly evident: the average flowtemperature has been reduced by approx. 7°C and the return temperature byapprox. 6°C. In total, over 1,500 MWh of energy can be saved annually in the approx. 900 connections in Göttingen's district heatingnetwork. In addition, the GreenPocket software could be used for numerousapplications, such as comparing and checking the performance of CHP units todetect power peaks and calculating, for example, main meters withconsumption totals from sub-meters in order to identify buildings with heatlosses. Stadtwerke Göttingen uses the GreenPocket software not only for itsown heating networks but also for the visualization of other sectors and energymanagement for large commercial customers. For this purpose, the data is fedinto the software not only from the LoRaWAN network but also from the EDMsystem (e.g. RLM measurements) and visualized together in a portal.

Missed the presentation at SID22?

PHYSEC and GreenPocket would be happy to presenttheir combined package in a detailed webinar - just get in touch!‍

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