MOSOL-NET: Development of a modular expandable technical solution, which enable solar supported heating networks in new buildings

Technical and economical applicable solutions for modular-expendable solar-supported heating networks for new buildings should be developed in the framework of this project. This should be done in cooperation with building developers, heat suppliers, public utility companies and technology providers (solar energy and biomass).

Building developers are in general prepared to realise a central heat supply system, which could cover several housings, larger building areas and multi-family buildings. In spite of this have such projects failed in the realisation (with a few exceptions) due to a lack of technical and economical realised complete concepts.

In new built areas, which are situated outside of larger cities and where an access to the district heating network it not possible, is a failure of a central heat supply via heating network often the result of a long construction time. Further is a central heating supply covered by as much renewable energy sources as possible (up to 100%) not possible since the modular expandable heat supply systems are not applied. The present solution of this problem is installations of small, de-central oil and gas burners, which are accepted as economical solutions.

Typical new housing areas in the municipal sector areas and by building developers are identified and surveyed in this project and the most important characteristic of the construction type and density are documented.

Three different modular heating concepts will be developed for three typical new built areas.

These concepts will be simulated in comparison to single solutions based on fossil operated burners.

• The modular heat supply concepts consist of a modular expandable heating system, to which all buildings in the area can be attached
• the heating distribution net, which connects the building with the heating system
• solar collector areas, which are integrated into the roofs or facades. Possibilities to expand these collector areas should be developed so that separate areas can de-central supply heat to the net. Such possible expandation would enable that entire area does not have to be finished in the first construction section.
• a heat storage tank for momentarily not used solar heat and as peak adjustment for the conventional heat supplier. De-central solutions are here also possible.
• a heat supply system (domestic hot water and space heating), which is aligned for the requirements from the solar thermal system. The goal is to reduce the net temperatures in comparison to conventional heating networks (supply/return: 60/35°C). This would enable an optimal operation of the solar thermal system and at the same time reduce system losses.

General design criteria should be developed on the base of the simulation results. The goal is to define general technical, ecological and economical parameters, which serve as base for decision when developing components and for the planning of the entire system. Solutions are developed for multi-storey residential buildings as well as for housings with one and two family buildings and for terraced houses.