Innovations:
Innovation 1: Use of liquid TCF in a district network
Thermo-chemical absorption processes have up to now only been used in local stand-alone applications for drying and heating as well as cooling. The use of liquid thermo-chemical fluids (TCF) in district networks with loss-less transport and storage is the main innovation of the project. This allows shifting energy potentials in space, time, and, to some extent, in temperature level and provides short-time up to seasonal storage for smart energy systems.
Innovation 2: Low-temperature heat utilization (residual heat and renewables)
The technology allows the exploitation of very-low-temperature residual heat and qualifies it for long-distance transport. According to research (Persson et al. 2014), there is about 11,000 PJ/a residual heat in the EU of which more than the half can be expected to be at too low temperature for conventional district network technology or at too long-distance from demand. Unused renewables (e.g. solar thermal in summer) form a second source. The technology allows for exploiting this source with large environmental and economic benefit.
Innovation 3: Novel thermo-chemical air-conditioning
Air-conditioning (temperature and humidity control) is energy-intensive. The technology offers efficient and cheap integrated temperature and humidity control based on residual heat. An absorbers/desorber replaces, for instance, dewpoint cooling for dehumidification, steam humidification and heat exchangers. High reductions of energy demand, costs and hygienic problems are expected.
Innovation 4: Heating with TC technology
The absorption process in combination with a humid-air solar collector (a greenhouse or a collector design evaporating water) forms a heating system. In comparison with thermal collectors, the systems transports energy by latent potential (humidity) and thus reduces operation temperature and thermal losses. This allows for simpler and cheaper collector designs and more effective operation.
Innovation 5: Simulation approach for TC technology
District network simulation for the complex interaction of thermal and humidity-related processes does not exist up to now. The simulation approach in the project will develop a solution for such processes interconnecting the two domains.
Impacts:
Long-distance loss-less transport: The technology allow the transport and storage of energy potential without thermal losses. This makes excess heat and unused renewables available at distant locations and at different times and, as a consequence, increases primary energy efficiency and reduces energy costs.
Very-low-temperature excess heat: The technology is able to exploit very-low-temperature excess heat between 30 and 80°C that is currently to large extend unused. About the half of the excess heat volume is in this temperature range.
Multiservice network: The new technology allows energy efficient heating, cooling and drying applications at the same time.
Energy efficiency and end user cost reduction: Using excess heat, the technology is able to reduce primary energy demand and end user costs for space heat, cooling, humidity control and reduction as well as drying applications. Furthermore, heat recovery for heating and cooling is integrated in the technology improving energy efficiency further.
