Connecting more homes to a busy district heating network? No problem with the eXergiemaschine!
Efficient expansion despite full grids - the eXergiemaschine water-to-water heat pump in a practical test
The eXergiemaschine, a development by BMS-Energietechnik AG and varmeco, is a special water-to-water heat pump that guarantees a low return temperature in the district heating network even at full load. This makes it possible to connect additional consumers to networks that are already at full capacity.
The reference project at a glance:
Location: Residential complex in Schlossstrasse, Boll district (Vechingen/Switzerland).
Object: A residential complex with 72 apartments and several commercial units.
Challenge: The existing district heating network was already largely exhausted. A connection was only possible under strict conditions, in particular compliance with low return temperatures (35/40 °C with flow temperatures of 75/85 °C).
Solution: Conversion of the hot water preparation to hydraulic instantaneous water heaters and integration of the eXergiemaschine.
Functionality of the eXergiemaschine in the project: It creates the ideal temperature stratification in the heating storage tanks regardless of consumption behavior and thus ensures a constantly cool return flow to the district heating network.
Result: Since commissioning in November 2023, the return temperature has always been within the required range, allowing the additional 72 apartments to be successfully connected to the district heating network.
Efficiency: The eXergiemaschine is extremely energy-efficient and delivers around five kilowatt hours of heat per kilowatt hour of electricity.
Find out more about this project and how the eXergiemaschine works in our detailed reference article: 72 more apartments on an already fully utilized district heating network
Further references
Frequently asked, simply explained
From a physical point of view, energy is always conserved. However, it consists of usable parts, the exergy, and not directly usable parts, the so-called anergy.
Energy = exergy + anergy
In technical thermodynamics, exergy refers to the part of the energy that can perform work. In heating technology, exergy is the part that leads to heat flows due to the higher temperature level and thus makes space heating and domestic hot water heating possible in the first place.
Exergy, the proportion of energy that determines whether heat is usable, must be given greater focus. After all, exergy optimization is the key to system efficiency.
If the different temperature ranges of a well-stratified water storage tank are completely mixed, the water ends up with a uniform average temperature.
The energy content of the storage tank remains unchanged. During this process, the hot water transfers its heat to the colder water. This means that the exergy that existed at the higher temperature level compared to the average temperature and was required, for example, for
which would be necessary to heat drinking water, has disappeared, irretrievably, irreversibly. Exergy has become anergy. Anergy is energy that can no longer be used (without a new supply of energy). Only by using auxiliary means (e.g. electricity) can it be used again.
exergy arise.
In contrast to energy, exergy can therefore be reduced or even completely destroyed.
The varmeco fresh water technology uses instantaneous water heaters to heat domestic hot water only when required, eliminating the need to store it in a domestic hot water tank and inhibiting the growth of germs (e.g. legionella). The integrated VarCon211 controller only activates the charging pump when drinking water is required, which saves energy and ensures hygiene at the same time.
Thanks to the separation of heating and domestic hot water and adaptive control, the system adapts optimally to daily requirements. The circulation pump control keeps the domestic hot water at the right temperature and prevents the proliferation of legionella bacteria, ensuring a high level of hot water comfort and safety.
The eXergiemaschine recycles waste heat that escapes unused in many businesses and turns it into usable heat. It raises the temperature of the waste heat to a usable level and simultaneously cools the lower part of the heat storage tank, which improves the efficiency of the heat sources. This efficient use saves energy and is easy on both the wallet and the environment.
The eXergiemaschine is a special heat pump that enables high source temperatures and a wide temperature spread. This makes it an ideal partner for renewable energy systems, such as solar thermal and hybrid modules, which work more efficiently and supply more energy.
Questions? With pleasure!
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