»AD Net Heat« Software Solution for District Heating – Dynamic Simulation for the Networks of Tomorrow

The district heating of the future as a central component of a sustainable energy system requires new control concepts as well as communicative approaches. With our innovative software tool »AD Net Heat«, we dynamically simulate the state of district heating networks and optimize their operations in real time. 

Our digital twin enables heat suppliers to ensure a consistently efficient network operation – even under increasingly complex operating conditions with decentralized feed-in – while ensuring its stability and security of supply.

»AD Net Heat« Simulates and Optimizes Operation of District Heating Networks 

Current software for operational support of combined heat and power plants either deals with the optimal use of local operating resources, treating the heating network only as a structureless sink. Or software is used for spatially resolved thermo-hydraulic simulation of the heating networks, which, however, usually neither captures dynamic runtime effects nor allows for operational optimization. This is where »AD Net Heating« comes in.

The dynamic simulation of the district heating network has enormous advantages: The network operator can use the software to monitor both the temperature and the flow conditions at any point in the district heating network at any time. This allows to control the feed temperature provided at the power plant and the mass flow pumped into the network and thus prevents, for example, gas boilers from having to be switched on at high cost to produce heat.

Mathematics Behind the Software Creates Digital Twin

Classical methods for solving the fluctuating thermo-hydraulic equations are too inaccurate or time-consuming to provide optimized controls for live operation of the district heating network. 

Digital Twin Supports District Heating Transformation

As the transition of the energy system progresses, the heating sector is facing numerous technical challenges that require innovations in the control of network operation and its monitoring, such as

• Integration of renewable sources and waste heat potentials into the grids
• Decentralization of heat generation capacities with volatile feed-in
• Dynamic sector coupling and heating grids as regional energy storage for the power sector
• Adjustment of the temperature level in the networks due to continuously decreasing heat demand due to stricter energy standards for buildings and progressive refurbishment of the building stock
• Steady expansion and extension of grids

Fields of Application of Our District Heating Network Software »AD Net Heat«

District heating suppliers use »AD Net Heat« for:

• Monitoring of the network state
• Optimization of operation (also for decentralized feed-in), e.g. peak load management
• Grid expansion planning and scenario analysis, e.g. expansion of the grid, integration of new sources
• Early fault detection
• Optimal placement of new feed-in locations
• Optimal placement of measurement sensors

Based on the software and a provided network topology, it is possible for us to conduct studies for specific questions, or for suppliers to independently perform network state monitoring via a user-friendly interface.