District Thermal Energy Grid Pressure-Based Demand Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for heating and cooling in urban areas strains existing energy distribution grids, leading to environmental impact and high infrastructure costs, necessitating improved energy utilization and distribution efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling district thermal energy distribution that involves measuring local pressure differences in the grid and generating control signals to adjust the outtake of heat or cold from local distribution systems, allowing for reduced demand and increased grid capacity without additional infrastructure investments, utilizing a control server to communicate with local control units and pressure difference determining devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the district thermal energy distribution grid distributes heated or cooled heat transfer fluid to multiple buildings, then the energy distribution capacity increases, but the pressure difference between feed line and return line decreases below threshold levels
Solution Approach 1:
The control server continuously monitors pressure differences between feed and return lines at various locations in the distribution grid. When the pressure difference falls below a predetermined threshold, the system automatically generates control signals to adjust outtake settings at local distribution systems, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains optimal pressure levels while supporting high energy distribution capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters of local distribution systems by modifying outtake settings based on real-time pressure conditions. This allows the grid to maintain adequate pressure differences across the distribution network while serving multiple buildings and maintaining high energy distribution capacity
2Area of stationary object
If additional local distribution systems are connected to the distribution grid to serve more buildings, then the coverage area increases, but the pressure difference in the grid decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control server implements location-specific control by sending individualized control signals to each local distribution system based on its position in the network and local pressure conditions. This allows different outtake settings at different locations, maintaining adequate pressure differences even as the coverage area expands to serve more buildings
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static to dynamic control by continuously adjusting outtake settings at local distribution systems based on real-time pressure measurements. This dynamic adaptation enables the grid to expand coverage area while maintaining operational parameters within acceptable ranges
3Productivity
If the outtake of heat or cold is increased from the distribution grid to meet demand, then the energy supply to buildings improves, but the pressure difference in the grid decreases below threshold levels
Solution Approach 1:
The control server implements demand-based partial action by adjusting outtake settings at local distribution systems to match actual energy demands while maintaining pressure differences above threshold levels. Rather than uniformly maximizing outtake across the entire grid, the system applies selective adjustments at specific locations where demand exists, thereby maintaining both adequate energy supply and acceptable pressure levels
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling a district thermal energy distribution system is presented. The method comprises: determining whether a local pressure difference between a feed line (111) and a return line (112) of a distribution grid (110) is below a predetermined threshold; upon the local pressure difference is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, generating a control signal comprising information instructing a local distribution system (150) to reduce outtake of heat or cold from the distribution grid (110); sending the control signal to a local control unit (140) of the local distribution system (150); and reducing, in response to the control signal, the outtake of heat or cold of the local distribution system (150) from the distribution grid (110). The distribution grid (110) may be a district heating grid or a district cooling grid. Also, a control server and a district thermal energy distribution system is presented.