REM / REC / RES

Renewable Energy Monitoring / Renewable Energy Control / Renewable Energy Simulation

Heating networks have sophisticated electronics which allow remote monitoring, control and extra-services of the systems. The main objective of this project is to examine the feasibility of an overall energy management system based on existing components.

Problem and starting point
Local and district heating networks are include a wide range of sophisticated electronics, enabling remote monitoring, control and extra-services of the thermal systems. There are various software and hardware applications on different levels with different formats and interfaces that work without any communication between each other.
The supposed optimization and efficiency improvement potentials lie in the following three points:

  • The existing software and hardware applications have to offer a potential for efficiency gains and multi-functional applications.
  • The current control system does not allow a rapid implementation of smart solutions that can be identified as key factors for an increase of integration of renewables.
  • introduction of real-time communication and control systems is often not possible because of old bus systems and the missing links.

Goals and methods
With respect to the previously described problem the main objective of the project is to check the feasibility of an overall energy management system for small and medium-sized heating networks. In order to make a statement the following steps are necessary:

  • Analysis of available data and components.
  • Survey of the essential parameters for modeling the heating system and for other renewable and heat sources.
  • Development of a simulation model for a corresponding heating network in Matlab / Simulink.
  • Evaluation of the efficiency improvement potential using the simulation model and estimation of the possibilities of further integration of renewable and thermal sources.
  • Estimation of the opportunity to develop a overall energy management system.


Results and findings
Should the project show the desired results in terms of the efficiency improvement opportunities, integration of other heat sources, economic and technical feasibility, an energy management system for small and medium-sized heating networks could be developed which allows an overall system optimization and gives the heat network operators an easy to use tool for the easier operation (generation, transmission, consumers).