For Stadtwerke Riesa GmbH’s transformation planning, we developed a digital twin of the existing Elbufer and Bebelstraße district heating networks. It was used to investigate expansion and transformation scenarios, including connecting the two networks and integrating additional heat sources.
Investigating Tank Height for Pressure Maintenance
After completion of the main project, the existing pressure maintenance system was to be relocated and implemented as an unpressurized balancing tank. The question was how tall the tank needed to be to maintain pressure reliably in both the current network and the future combined network. Its sizing affects permitting and the economic viability of the proposed solution.
Using the existing digital twin and our DynamicDistrictHeatingGridLibrary, we dynamically verified the proposed sizing. The simulations confirmed that the planned pressure maintenance system is adequately sized for current operation and future network expansion. They also showed that dynamic effects in the network can reduce the required tank height.
The digital twin could therefore be reused beyond the original transformation planning to address a specific sizing question. The results support technical, economic, and permitting decisions during implementation.
Further information on the modeling and network scenarios is available on the Riesa network hydraulic analysis project page.