District Heating Optimisation and Control
Heating Plants: The Key Role of Temperature Control
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In multi-family residential buildings, temperature control plays an essential role in maintaining occupant comfort while controlling energy consumption. It involves adjusting the heating system according to actual needs, outdoor conditions and the system’s ability to distribute heat evenly.
Understanding thermal regulation in collective housing
A properly regulated district heating system must meet a number of requirements:
- Guarantee optimum thermal comfort by maintaining a stable temperature in each dwelling, without overheating or cold zones.
- Avoid energy losses caused by inappropriate heat distribution.
- Reduce operating costs by limiting over-consumption of energy and avoiding costly maintenance due to malfunctions.
- Reduce environmental impact by limiting CO₂ emissions linked to heat production.
KEY FIGURES for thermal regulation in France
Heating accounts for 66% of a home's energy consumption.
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efficient temperature control can reduce energy bills by up to 15%.
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The challenges of optimising district heating
Optimising a district heating system is a complex issue, because it involves managing several parameters simultaneously.
The major challenges include
Hydraulic imbalance and heat loss
In a collective heating network, hot water must be distributed evenly to all the homes. However, hydraulic imbalances can occur, resulting in :
- Significant temperature differences between the first and last homes served by the network.
- Excessive energy consumption, as some dwellings receive too much heat while others receive too little.
- Thermal discomfort, with occupants forced to open windows to let out excess heat, adding to energy wastage.
Lack of responsiveness
Traditional heating systems often operate
with a significant lag time. When a change in temperature occurs outside
outside, it can take several hours or even a whole day to adjust the heating. This lack of responsiveness results in :
- Overheating at the beginning and end of the heating season (when the outside temperature varies rapidly).
- Thermal discomfort, with residents experiencing significant temperature
temperature differences before the system adapts.
Excessive energy consumption
In the absence of precise control, collective heating installations can lead to unnecessary expenditure, due to :
- Heat production that exceeds actual requirements.
- Equipment running continuously, even when homes are unoccupied.
- Poor maintenance, leading to lower boiler efficiency and premature ageing of the installations.
The role of IoT sensors in boiler room management
The Internet of Things (IoT) makes it possible to significantly improve the control of installations. Connected sensors are used to collect and transmit the data needed to optimise control.
The data needed to optimise boiler room management:
- Real-time measurement of room temperature and heating circuit water temperature.
- Monitor humidity, pressure and water flow to optimise heat distribution.
- Analyses energy consumption to identify anomalies and adjust set points.
- Detect malfunctions to optimise maintenance services and avoid breakdowns.
The different types of sensors used :
In collective heating installations, various types of IoT sensors are now used to optimise boiler room operation and ensure consistent thermal comfort throughout the building:
Ambient temperature and humidity sensors: installed in dwellings and communal areas, these sensors help assess heat distribution efficiency and adjust regulation based on real conditions.
Connected energy meters: these sensors measure the precise energy consumption of the boiler room and distribution points, enabling performance monitoring and optimisation.
Heating circuit temperature sensors: placed at the flow and return points of the heating network (including domestic hot water circuits), they monitor temperature differences and help identify thermal losses.
Outdoor temperature sensors: by comparing indoor and outdoor temperatures, these sensors support anticipatory heating adjustments according to weather conditions.
Dry contact sensors: used to report equipment alarms or faults, they ensure continuous monitoring of system operation.
Flow sensors: by measuring the volume of water circulating in the network, they ensure balanced heat distribution and help detect anomalies or hydraulic imbalances.
Pressure sensors: by monitoring system pressure, they help prevent issues such as leaks, overpressure, or blockages that could damage equipment or reduce efficiency.
The impact of sensors on energy optimisation :
Thanks to the data collected by these sensors, operators can implement advanced strategies to improve the efficiency of their boiler rooms:
- Automatic temperature adjustment based on actual conditions, to avoid wastage.
- Detection of hydraulic imbalances, enabling heat distribution faults to be corrected.
- Anticipate breakdowns and reduce the need for corrective action, thereby limiting maintenance costs.
Towards more intelligent and efficient temperature control
By integrating IoT sensors and intelligent control solutions in boiler rooms, we can move from conventional regulation to dynamic, optimised management of collective heating systems.
Concrete Benefits for Building Managers and Occupiers
- Lower energy bills thanks to consumption adjusted to actual needs.
- Improved thermal comfort with more precise and responsive regulation.
- Reduced CO₂ emissions by optimising the use of energy resources.
- Enhanced value of property assets, with well-regulated buildings displaying better energy performance.
A major challenge for the energy transition
With increasingly stringent thermal regulations and the need to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, modernising district heating systems is a key lever for improving the energy efficiency of existing building stock.
IoT and advanced control solutions offer promising prospects for achieving these objectives, by combining energy performance, user comfort and reduced operating costs.
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