Energy Planning for Resilient Communities

Advanced hot water systems

Dr. Stephan Richter

Executive GEF Ingenieur AG

Washington, 12/06/2017 GEF Ingenieur AG

Ferdinand-Porsche-Straße 4a
D-69181 Leimen
info@gef.de
www.gef.de
GEF Ingenieur AG

Studies Piping systems

 Research projects, feasibility studies  A&E
 Thermohydraulic simulation and design  Construction supervision

Generation plants Software development

 Planning and design  i.a. sisKMR, POLIS
Energy Planning for Resilient Communities
Advanced hot water systems

Agenda

1. Motivation and objectives for energy system transformation

2. Transformation and optimization potential in district heating
3. Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
 BMWi: DYNEEF
 BMWi: NENIA
 CHEMNITZ
 BMWi: DUISBURG-WEDAU

4. Conclusion
Motivation and objectives for energy system
transformation

 Transformation and optimization of energy systems mainly influenced by triangle of main

objectives (or requirements) in energy economy:
1. Ecological footprint*
2. Preservation of energy security (energy resilience**)
3. Preservation of economic efficiency
*Main pillars of decarbonization:

Increase of
Increase of share Reduction of
(building,
of renewable primary energy
technical)
energies consumption
efficiency

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Motivation and objectives for energy system
transformation

 Transformation and optimization of energy systems mainly influenced by triangle of main

objectives (or requirements) in energy economy:
1. Ecological footprint*
2. Preservation of energy security (energy resilience**)
3. Preservation of economic efficiency
**Criteria for demarcation:

Energy security
(especially for mission-critical facilities)

Reliability Availability Adaptivity

• Quality and technical maturity of • Degree of diversification of • Back-up and storage capacities
components energy resources • Ramp-up times
• Adequacy of maintenance and • Degree of energy autarchy on • Flexibility on demand side
service building/district level • …
• … • Topology of „energy distributing
structures“
• …

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Motivation and objectives for energy system
transformation

 Transformation and optimization of energy systems mainly influenced by triangle of main

objectives (or requirements) in energy economy:
1. Ecological footprint*
2. Preservation of energy security (energy resilience**)
3. Preservation of economic efficiency
**Criteria for demarcation:

Heat supply (including losses)

Heat demand

„Characterization and individually set degree of energy resilience (e.g. in ) significantly

influence effort and cost of energy system transformation.“
 Reduce of energy demand essential
 Minimum comfort and coziness to be guaranteed?
Availability – key word: mission-critical facilities

Reliability Adaptivity

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Motivation and objectives for energy system
transformation

 Transformation and optimization of energy systems mainly influenced by triangle of main

objectives (or requirements) in energy economy:
1. Ecological footprint*
2. Preservation of energy security (energy resilience**)
3. Preservation of economic efficiency

Energy system framework, (e.g. political, social, local) boundary conditions

„System transformation towards
4th generation should focus on
reduction of ecological footprint
Ecology while preserving energy security
Economic efficiency
(energy resilience) at moderate
costs.“
Resilience
Expediency „Economic sustainability of new
system concepts will evolve in
Neutrality,
objectivity of Rebound
the long-term.“
Realizability
and
solutions effect(s)  Increasing relevance in
restrictions market, economy of scale
 Disruptive business models
 Adjusted boundary conditions

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Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components:

Generation and
storage unit

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Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components: Generation and storage

1. Reduction of ecological footprint:
 Decarbonisation
 Increase of efficiency (min. primary energy consumption)

2. Preservation of energy security (energy resilience):

 Diversification
 Flexibilisation and increase of storage capacities
Generation and  Disaggregation
storage unit  Sector coupling (PtH, PtG...)

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Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components: Piping system

Generation and
storage unit
1. Reduction of ecological footprint:
 Decrease of heat losses:
 Optimization of piping systems and insulation
 Decrease of operating temperatures (Low-Ex)
 Decrease of pressure losses

2. Preservation of energy security (energy resilience):

 Redundancy
 Modified topology

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Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components: Decrease of heat losses – a (theoretical) alternative

to thermally insulated and/or Low-Ex-systems

Desorption on supply side Absorption on demand side

Dry, hot
Wet, cold
air (e.g.
air
flue gas)

Concenctrated TCF
transport Diluted TCF
transport

EU H2020-project H-DISNET: Schematic process scheme of open absorption process with thermochemical fluid (TCF, e.g. MgCl2-H2O)

Graphic taken and adapted from http://www.flexynets.eu/en/Media

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Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components: Increase of energy resilience by modified topology

Line or radial network Meshed radial network

(historically grown) (historically grown)

EU H2020-project Flexynets: One-pipe ring system for

Low-Ex-networks (15-20 °C)
Ring network Meshed ring network

Graphics taken from Rötsch, Dietmar: Zuverlässigkeit von Rohrleitungssystemen: Graphic taken from http://www.flexynets.eu/en/Media
Fernwärme und Wasser; Springer-Verlag 1999

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Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components: Demand side

Generation and
storage
1. unitReduction
of ecological footprint:
 Decrease of operating temperatures (Low-Ex)
 Increase of efficiency
 Reduction of energy demand

2. Preservation of energy security (energy resilience):

 Increase of energy autarchy (prosumer)
 Flexibilisation, DSM

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 Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components: Integration of prosumers

Supply flow pipe

Decentral feed-in (between Decentral feed-in (return flow) Decentral feed-in (supply
Solarthermal supply and return flow) flow)
heat

Return flow pipe

BMWi-project DEZENTRAL: Bi-directional substation with decentralized feed-in (lab-scale)

Graphics taken and adapted from Schäfer et al.: DEZENTRAL – Dezentrale Einspeisung in Nah- und Fernwärmesysteme unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der
Solarthermie, final report of Solites, 2015 and https://projektinfos.energiewendebauen.de/projekt/dezentrale-einspeisung-solarer-waerme-in-nah-und-fernwaermenetze/

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Transformation and optimization potential in district
heating

Simplified DH-system and components:

For transition from lab- to pilot- and large-scale implementation of advanced (heat) supply
systems further research effort required:

 EMSR: increasing number of degrees of freedom, high complexity due to sector coupling
 Quality of optimization and high-resolution forecasting models
 Prevention of local exceeding of operating limits in dynamic mode (temperature, pressure)
 Long-term reliability and robustness of new components
Generation and
… unit
storage

Graphics taken from https://projektinfos.energiewendebauen.de/projekt/erneuerbare-waerme-optimal-in-fernwaermenetze-einspeisen/ and

https://projektinfos.energiewendebauen.de/projekt/zustandsbewertung-von-waermenetzen-bei-volatiler-fahrweise/

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
BMWi: DYNEEF

© TWL AG
CHP simulation for operational
optimization
 District heating grid modelled as
punctiform heat sink
 No referencing in space
 Dynamic

Thermohydraulic simulation of
district heating grid
 Heat generation plants modelled
as punctiform heat sources
 High spatial resolution
 Usually steady-state (isolated
examination of most relevant load
cases) © GEF Ingenieur AG

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
BMWi: DYNEEF

© TWL AG
CHP simulation for operational
optimization
 District heating grid modelled as
punctiform heat sink
 No referencing in space
 Dynamic
Dynamic, spatially and temporally highly resolved
simulation of district heating grids for flexibilisation
and efficiency
Thermohydraulic increase
simulation of of generation plant operation
districtDuration
heating grid
11/2015 – 10/2018
 Heat generation plants modelled
as punctiform heat sources
 High spatial resolution
 Usually steady-state (isolated
examination of most relevant load
cases) © GEF Ingenieur AG

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
BMWi: DYNEEF

© TWL AG © TWL AG

Validated test track 2 (von 3):

TWL subgrid LU-Rheingönheim

© GEF Ingenieur AG © GEF Ingenieur AG

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
BMWi: NENIA

 Transformation of existing district heating grids requires bundling and integration of

(transitional) resources and technologies:
 Waste incineration
 Industrial surplus energy (waste heat)
 Regulatory, financial, organisational, technical... barriers require innovative and holistic
solutions

Grid-focused exploitation of industrial waste heat

Duration 08/2015 – 07/2018

Graphic taken from https://projektinfos.energiewendebauen.de/projekt/potenziale-industrieller-abwaerme-in-waermenetzen-ermitteln/

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
BMWi: NENIA

Waste heat
GEMOD:
potential:
Heat demand model of
Declaration of
GIS-Model German building stock
emissions (11th
(status quo and
BImSchV),
scenarios)
E-PRTR (CO2) et al.

Techno-economic classification

Calibration

Exploitation
strategy
Case studies Recommendations of action Evaluation of
public accessibility
to GIS-tool
Potential heat demand,
residential buildings

High
Medium
Low

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
CHEMNITZ

Project phases (03/2016 – 08/2017):

Price (Local) initiatives and Heat demand
Boundary forecasts political framework Chemnitz
conditions

Conceptual
Derivation of Iterations Optimization of
phase future supply district heating grid
system

Transformation Choice of best solution,

strategy implementation plan

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
CHEMNITZ

 Stepwise implementation until 2030:

 Renewable base load (biomass-CHP)
 Medium load with gas-CHP
 Peak load with gas boiler
 Additionally, waste incineration, biogas and solar thermal
energy can be considered
 Advantages:
 Modular system, phased implementation – best response
capacity for changing political and technological boundary
conditions
 High-efficient technologies, increasing share of renewables
 Hydraulic optimization and increased efficiency in district
heating grid possible

High energy security, sustainable reduction of CO2-emissions and energy prices in line with
market requirements

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Exemplary (research) projects of GEF
BMWi: DUISBURG-WEDAU

 New residential district (ca. 60 ha, 2.500 units) with

attached university campus
 One of the biggest urban development projects in
Germany
 Nucleus of transformation for district heating in
Duisburg
 GEF will participate in a study examining Low-Ex district
heating (starting in 2018)
 Power-to-heat, fuel cells, combination of CHP and
heat pumps, waste heat
 Bi-directional substations
 Synergies by coordinated and efficient planning of
piping systems
• Predefined positioning/alignment (media-specific)
• Stepped trenches, well-defined corridors (media-
specific)
 Enriched by consistent mobility concept

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Conclusion

 District heating systems represent a key technology for transformation of energy systems
towards 4th generation:
 Reliable and well-established system components
 Highly diversifiable and flexible heat supply allows effective and efficient
decarbonisation
 Immanent load balancing and storage capacity
 Facilitates sector coupling and integration of transitional energy resources
 Broad range and variety of research projects and approaches underline potential of district
heating systems
 Challenges:
 Operating parameters in dynamic mode with bi-directional load flow
 EMSR, system optimization
 Overall system costs vs. return expectations

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