SOCO

Starting point: For the implementation of existing optimisation potentials in industry, commerce and district heating, it is important to expedite the reduction of energy demand as well as to integrate renewable energy technologies. For solving these two problems, complex optimisation principles are needed, due to the fact that heat demand and heat availability vary in time and need to be adjusted. For this reason heat storages are indispensable and necessary for increasing the resource and energy efficiencies in complex energy systems.

The aim of this project was to develop a software-based planning tool which is able to generate a holistic concept for the implementation of thermal storage systems. With the help of this tool it is be possible – based on a pinch analysis using real process data with varying heat loads – to generate and implement concepts for the reduction of primary energy demand in industry and in other thermal energy systems. The applications of the tool based on real data provide the possibility to increase the measures on energy efficiency, as well as to boost the implementation of economically and technically reasonable renewable energy technologies, with a special attention on solar process heat.

The SOCO tool offers the following functions:

• Pinch analysis on the basis of real life data with varying heat load profiles and the possibility to create heat exchanger networks
• Illustration of the residual load profile with its different temperature levels, to provide the best possible way of integrating renewable energy technology (solar process heat).
• Design of storage systems with regards on the heat exchanger network, previously calculated within the pinch analysis, and with regards on the possibility to implement renewable energies at its best (solar process heat).
• Illustration of a holistic optimisation concept for storage systems and heat exchangers and their energy saving potential.

The SOCO tool is specially designed for energy managers and consultants, plant engineering and construction enterprises, as well as for engineers dealing with solar integration. The main fields of application are industries where several complex heat and cold streams occur, like producing industry, commerce and district heating businesses.

Project management: DI Bettina Muster, DI Jürgen Fluch