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Virtual power plant based on mini- and micro-CHP technology
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Accounting grid of the Regional Virtual Power Plant (RVK)
© TU Dresden
The energy supply structures in Germany are currently undergoing major changes. This is being primarily driven by the policy framework for the development of renewable energies and the national phase-out of nuclear energy. Here there is a clear trend in Germany towards a much more decentralised energy provision in future. This is leading to an increased focus on mini- and micro-CHP technology. The research project conducted by the Institute for Energy Technology at the Technische Universität Dresden is investigating the interplay between cogeneration systems and the electrical loads in buildings. Firstly, the systems will be studied under a variety of operating conditions in regards to the building size, building type and user behaviour. Secondly, superordinate control and optimisation strategies in the network will also be investigated. This also includes mini- and micro-CHP systems running in self-sufficient modes of operation (standalone operation). The findings will be verified using an actual "Regional Virtual Power Plant" (RVPP).
Settlement summary
| Project status |  Realisation |
|---|---|
| Location | TU Dresden, Helmholtzstraße 14, 01062 Dresden |
| Project plan | Basic evaluation of micro-CHP systems at the laboratory scale, field test monitoring, development of regulation and control algorithms, transferring and testing these on actual properties in Berlin |
| Developer, organizer | TU Dresden, Verbundnetz Gas AG |
| Project themes |
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Project description
The research project includes the measurement-based analysis of mini- and micro-CHP systems, numerical investigations of the systems in the network, a field test phase as well as the creation and optimisation of a superordinate control regime with the inclusion of the power exchange.
Objectives
The research project aimed at calculating and optimising complex energy supply structures on the electrical and thermal sides. Particular attention was paid to the different reaction times of the subsystems. In addition to CO2 savings, it was also intended to investigate the possibilities and limitations of micro-CHP systems in the building sector. The development, testing and optimisation of appropriate control strategies for micro-CHP systems are also intended to support their establishment in the market.
Work programme
The research work encompasses:
- Measurement-based analyses at a laboratory scale
- The development of a "hardware in the loop" environment
- Dynamic investigations and the creation of numeric simulation models
- Conducting such simulations in the form of variant calculations
- as well as a field test
Funding
In addition to the project funding provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the EnEff:Wärme research initiative, another quarter of the expenses was met by industrial partners.
Preliminary steps, findings
In the first step of the processing, new thermal and electrical test rigs were built. These were integrated together to form the "Combined Energy Lab". This experimental arrangement is currently being used to run extensive analyses concerned with basic research. A field test is also currently being prepared. The selected test objects were equipped with appropriate measurement technology.
The investigations have produced detailed measurements of the CHP devices in the laboratory. The test rigs and their commissioning have been described in detail. The final report also documents a field test that was monitored by the participating institutions during the research project. Different simulation tools have been developed to simulate a regional virtual power plant (RVPP). This was used to carry out numerous numerical simulations that focussed on controlling RVPPs and optimising the control engineering.
