Control system for heat exchange between district heating networks, and method for same

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Solution Overview

Problem

District heating systems face high fuel consumption and low thermal efficiency due to continuous fuel supply requirements, necessitating a method to optimize heat exchange between networks.

Innovation Solution

A system and method involving a heat pump connected between the return pipe of one district heating network and the supply pipe of another, with temperature sensors and a control device to manage heat exchange direction based on temperature differences, allowing for efficient heat transfer between networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a district heating system continuously supplies fuel to maintain heat source production, then the system can ensure continuous heat supply to customers, but fuel consumption increases and thermal efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous heat supplyVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two district heating networks through a heat exchange station, allowing them to share thermal energy resources. The first network's waste heat or lower-temperature heat source is combined with the second network's heat source through heat pumps, creating a unified energy system that reduces total fuel consumption while maintaining continuous supply to both networks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchange station acts as an intermediary between two district heating networks. It includes heat pumps that transfer thermal energy from one network to another, enabling indirect heat exchange. This mediator allows networks to optimize their fuel consumption by sharing thermal resources without disrupting continuous heat supply to end users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If a district heating system operates independently without heat exchange, then the system structure remains simple, but thermal efficiency remains low due to inability to utilize waste heat from other networks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A heat exchange station is introduced as an intermediary component between two district heating networks. This station contains heat pumps that enable thermal energy transfer from one network to another. The intermediary structure allows waste heat recovery and thermal optimization without requiring complete system integration, thus improving thermal efficiency while controlling complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers waste heat or lower-temperature heat sources from one district heating network and reuses them in another network through the heat exchange station. Instead of discarding this residual thermal energy, it is captured via heat pumps and utilized to preheat or supplement heat sources in the second network, thereby reducing overall energy loss and improving thermal efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Use of energy by moving object

If heat exchange between district heating networks is implemented, then fuel consumption decreases and thermal efficiency increases, but system complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidcontrol system
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors temperature parameters from both district heating networks and uses this feedback to automatically adjust heat pump operations. By receiving real-time temperature data and comparing it with optimal operating parameters, the system dynamically optimizes heat exchange rates, ensuring fuel consumption is minimized while maintaining stable heat supply, thus managing control complexity through automated feedback loops

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchange system is designed to automatically regulate its own operation based on temperature differential detection. The control device autonomously determines when heat exchange should occur and adjusts heat pump capacity without requiring external intervention, allowing the system to self-optimize fuel efficiency while managing its own control complexity through built-in autonomous decision-making capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 fuel consumption and increases thermal efficiency by utilizing waste heat or low-temperature sources to enhance the temperature of heat sources, minimizing heat loss and optimizing energy use between networks.

Implementation Method 1

a heat pump connected between a return pipe of a first district heating network and a supply pipe of a second district heating network and configured to perform a heat exchange between a first heat source of the return pipe of the first district heating network and a second heat source of the supply pipe of the second district heating network

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat pump heat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3067631B1Control system for heat exchange between district heating networks, and method for same
Publication Date: 2018.01.17 KOREA INST OF ENERGY RES
  • EP3067631B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3067631B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3067631B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided are a system and method for controlling a heat exchange between district heating networks. The system includes a heat pump connected between a return pipe of a first district heating network and a supply pipe of a second district heating network and configured to perform a heat exchange between a first heat source returned through the return pipe and a second heat source supplied through the supply pipe, a plurality of temperature sensors configured to acquire temperatures of the first heat source and the second heat source, and a control device configured to control a heat exchange direction of the heat pump between the first heat source and the second heat source based on the temperatures of the first heat source and the second heat source.