Local Heating System with Dual-Grid Control for Energy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing use of energy for heating in urban areas leads to negative environmental impacts, necessitating improved utilization of energy distribution grids to reduce these effects.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling a primary local heating system that dynamically adjusts the relative uptake of heat from a heating grid and an electrical energy grid based on temporally resolved heating and electric power control parameters, optimizing energy usage by comparing supply and demand to minimize energy consumption and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If energy consumption for heating is increased to meet growing urban heating demands, then heating supply capability is improved, but environmental impact worsens due to increased greenhouse gas emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the mix of heating sources (heating grid vs. electrical energy grid) based on real-time conditions. The control parameter varies over time to optimize the balance between meeting heating demands and minimizing environmental impact, allowing the system to adapt to changing energy prices, availability, and carbon intensity of different sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the heating system by introducing a controllable mixing ratio between two different energy sources. By varying the proportion of heat from the heating grid versus electrical conversion, the system can optimize for different objectives (cost, emissions, reliability) without requiring infrastructure changes.
2Device complexity
If a single heating source is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but energy utilization efficiency deteriorates due to inability to optimize across multiple energy grids
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges two different energy supply pathways (heating grid and electrical energy grid) into a single integrated heating delivery system. Both sources feed into the same heat distribution infrastructure, allowing the benefits of multiple sources to be realized without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical energy grid acts as an intermediary source that can supplement or replace the primary heating grid. By converting electricity to heat through resistive heating elements, the system gains access to an additional energy source that can be utilized when economically or environmentally advantageous.
3Loss of energy
If dynamic control based on multiple parameters is implemented to optimize energy usage, then energy utilization is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors relevant parameters (energy prices, availability, demand conditions) and adjusts the heating source mix accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automatic optimization of energy utilization without requiring complex manual intervention or prediction algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The control parameter is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the system to respond to changing conditions in real-time. This dynamic approach maximizes energy utilization efficiency by continuously selecting the most advantageous energy source combination based on current circumstances.
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 allows for efficient dynamic adjustment of energy usage between grids, reducing environmental impact by utilizing the most resource-efficient energy source, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
Locally at a building heat from the heat transfer liquid is extracted via a heat exchanger to a local heating system
Implementation Method 2
The electrical energy may e.g. be used for heating tap water or for heating local heat transfer liquid used for comfort and/or process heating
Data Source
AI summary
A local heating system is presented. The local heating system comprising: a first heat source (10) connectable to a heating grid (110) and arranged to extract heat from the heating grid (110); a second heat source (20) connectable to an electrical energy grid (120) and to transform electricity feed through the electrical energy grid (120) into heat; a heat emitting device (30); a distribution system (40) for circulating heat transfer fluid between the heat emitting device (30) and the first and second heat sources (10, 20); and a controller (50) configured to control the first and second heat source's (10, 20) relative outtake of heat from the heating grid (110) and the electrical energy grid (120), respectively.