Optimize Your Forward Temperature
Unlock the unused potential in your heat network
Smart Optima Heat Network – for optimization and lowering of the forward temperature and peak shaving.
Smart Optima Heat Network (SOHN)
The Smart Optima Heat Network (SOHN) module is a software tool that helps district heating producing companies to economically optimize the forward temperature in the operation of its district heating network, based on adaptive and dynamic calculation models.
Challenges and Benefits for Energy Companies
The Smart Optima Heat Network (SOHN) module is a feature that enables economic optimization of the forward temperature in the district heating network, contributing to the following benefits:
- Reduction of operational costs,
- Lowering of the forward temperature,
- Possibility for increased incomes from electricity trading,
- Reduction of CO₂ emissions,
- Reduction in start-up of peak load boilers, smoother flow in the district heating network.
Smart Optima Heat Network takes into consideration:
- Heat accumulation in the heat network
- Time delays in the network
- Heat losses
- Transmission constraints (bottle necks)
- Temperature dependent efficiencies for steam turbines and flue gas condensers
For a more profitable district heating production and trading
Dynamic Modelling of the Heat Network
The district heating network is dynamic in nature such that a change in flow rate affects the entire network within a few seconds. However, it may take several hours for a change in forward temperature to reach the entire network. Smart Optima Heat Network utilizes this phenomenon and enables the optimizer to work with the dynamics of the network instead of against it.
All the economically important components of the district heating network are modelled and the optimal forward temperature is calculated.
The result of optimizing with the Smart Optima Heat Network (SOHN) are:
- Lower forward temperature (network without transfer limitations).
- Temporary increase in forward temperature before load peaks to avoid start of peak load boilers (network with transfer limitations). Load peak shaving.
- Fewer start/stop of production units, resulting in reduced production costs and reduced wear of units.
- Lower CO₂ emissions, as fossil fuels are often used during start-up of boilers. In addition, it is often fossil fuel that is used in peak load boilers that starts at temporary load peaks, which now can be avoided.
- Better management of transmission constraints in the district heating network, so that heat produced with lower cost can reach larger parts of the heat network.
- Less water flow fluctuations in the network by adjusting the forward temperature to current time delays so that the right temperature reaches the consumers.
- Better possibilities to act on the electricity trading market.
Developed with support from Vinnova
