Thermal Network Mass Flow Control for Peak Load Redistribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal networks face challenges in managing peak loads, leading to increased costs and potential failures, as peak demands exceed supply capacity, often requiring additional energy sources or shutting off consumers, which are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Identifying low-demand consumers through demand forecast systems and reducing energy supply to them during peak hours by controlling mass flow, using differential pressure and flow control valves, to redistribute energy and alleviate peak loads without affecting consumer comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional energy sources (e.g., boilers, chillers) are installed to cover peak load demands, then the thermal network can meet peak demand, but capital and operational expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by identifying low-demand consumers in advance before peak loads occur. Demand forecast systems predict future energy demand patterns, and the control system pre-positiones reduced supply to selected consumers during anticipated peak periods, preventing the need for additional energy infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal network is segmented into different consumer groups based on demand characteristics. The system identifies and separates low-demand consumers from high-demand consumers, applying different supply strategies to each segment. This segmentation allows peak load management without requiring additional energy sources for the entire network
2Power
If energy supply is shut off to selected end consumers during peak periods to reduce demand, then peak load demands are reduced, but network efficiency decreases due to additional energy required for restarting supply
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely shutting off energy supply to consumers, the system applies partial reduction of energy supply to identified low-demand consumers during peak periods. This partial action reduces peak load demands while avoiding the complete shutdown and restart cycle that causes energy penalties, maintaining continuous but reduced supply to these consumers
3Power
If temperatures are increased in the thermal network to cover peak load demands, then supply capacity increases, but the solution is not optimal due to limited carrier propagation speed and long distances
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the problem of insufficient supply capacity from the physical network constraints by identifying and managing demand-side characteristics. Instead of trying to increase supply capacity through temperature changes that are limited by carrier propagation speed, the system extracts and manages peak demand through consumer identification and selective supply reduction, bypassing the time-delay issue entirely
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 peak loads, eliminates the need for additional energy sources, and improves network efficiency by maintaining comfort and optimizing energy distribution, thereby reducing operational costs and enhancing thermal network performance.
Implementation Method 1
The pipe system transports thermal energy from the suppliers to the consumers
Implementation Method 2
The mass flow control means is arranged to control a mass flow between the supply side and the identified low-demand consumers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for controlling energy supply distribution in a thermal network (100) during peak loads (201, 203) is presented. The thermal network (100) comprises a supply side and a consumer side configured to communicate with the supply side. At least one low-demand consumer from the plurality of consumers (104-112, 401, 402) is identified first and then energy supply towards the identified low-demand consumer(s) is decreased by controlling mass flow between the supply side and the identified low-demand consumer(s) during selected time periods, e.g. by reducing a differential pressure across differential pressure valve(s) (408) arranged at the interface between the supply side and the identified low-demand consumer(s). Energy supply towards the remaining consumers of the plurality of consumers (104-112, 401, 402) is maintained during the selected time periods.