Distributed Buffer Storage for Low-Loss District Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized buffer storage systems in local heating networks result in significant heat losses, especially during summer months, as they maintain high operating temperatures to provide service water, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A distributed buffer storage system where decentralized buffer storage units at individual consumer locations communicate and coordinate to determine actual heat requirements, allowing for precise control and regulation, enabling the network to be temporarily switched off during summer, reducing heat losses and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central buffer storage system is used to maintain high operating temperatures for service water provision, then service water availability is ensured, but heat losses in the network increase significantly (up to 80% in summer)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single central buffer storage into multiple decentralized buffer storage systems distributed at individual consumer locations. Each decentralized unit independently manages its own buffer storage, allowing the network to lower overall temperatures while ensuring service water availability at each location without maintaining high temperatures throughout the entire network.
2Ease of operation
If a central buffer storage system maintains continuous high temperature operation, then consumer comfort is maintained, but energy consumption increases and the network cannot be switched off during summer
Solution Approach 1:
The decentralized buffer storage systems are charged in advance during periods when heat is available, storing thermal energy locally at consumer premises. This preliminary charging allows the network to switch off during summer months while consumers can still access service water from their pre-charged local buffers, maintaining comfort without continuous energy input.
3Loss of energy
If decentralized buffer storage systems are implemented, then heat losses are reduced and network flexibility increases, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control units in the decentralized buffer storage systems communicate with each other and with the heat source control unit, exchanging information about buffer charge levels, temperature conditions, and service water requests. This feedback mechanism enables automatic coordination without requiring complex centralized control, allowing the system to optimize heat distribution and reduce losses while maintaining simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces heat losses by up to 40% while maintaining performance and comfort, allowing for smaller pipe diameters and lower connected loads, eliminating the need for a central buffer tank and unnecessary energy reserves, and optimizing heat delivery to match actual consumer needs.
Implementation Method 1
The buffer storage systems are each provided with a buffer storage for storing thermal energy in the form of heated water
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger for charging the buffer storage with heat from the heating network
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a buffer storage system (2) for use in a district heating network. To enable particularly energy-efficient operation of a district heating network, a buffer storage system (2) is proposed, comprising a buffer storage tank (5) that can be connected to the district heating network via a supply line (6) and a return line (7), a pipe arrangement (9) that connects the supply line (6) to the return line (7) via the buffer storage tank (5), thus providing a first flow path (8) for a heat transfer fluid circulating in the district heating network, an additional pipe arrangement (11) that connects the supply line (6) to the return line (7) bypassing the buffer storage tank (5), thus providing an alternative second flow path (10) for the heat transfer fluid, a switching element (14) designed to switch a heat transfer fluid flow between the first flow path (8) and the second flow path (10), and a control unit (3).equipped to communicate with another control unit (3) of at least one further buffer storage system (2) and further equipped to control the switching element (14) depending on one or more network variables.