Comsol Case Studies Better Ways to Heat and Cool Buildings

	Better Ways to Heat and Cool Buildings Comsol

Better Ways to Heat and Cool Buildings

Comsol

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Buildings Renewable Energy
Applicable Functions	Facility Management Maintenance
Use Cases	Building Energy Management Energy Management System Predictive Maintenance
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	The heating and cooling of buildings account for nearly 50 percent of energy consumption in Europe, prompting researchers to seek alternatives to conventional technologies. One promising solution is adsorption-based heating and cooling systems driven by heat rather than electricity. This technology can utilize heat from solar collectors, waste heat from industrial facilities, or combined heat and power units, significantly reducing electricity consumption and CO2 emissions. However, the development of these systems is complex due to their discontinuous operating cycles, varying peak energy fluxes, and the dynamic behavior determined by complex heat and mass transfer phenomena. To realize their full potential, the technology must become more efficient, compact, and cost-effective. Read More
About Customer	The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany, is one of the world's leading research organizations in the field of solar energy transformation, storage, and use. With a staff of approximately 1,300 employees, the institute is part of a network of over 65 Fraunhofer research institutes in Germany specializing in various aspects of applied science. Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE, including Eric Laurenz and Hannes Fugmann, are part of a 20-person group led by Lena Schnabel, focusing on developing higher-efficiency heat exchangers for adsorption systems. The team uses a combination of simulation and small-scale experiments to build large-scale models that accurately predict the complex real-world behavior of the physics being investigated. Read More
Solution	The team at Fraunhofer ISE uses a combination of simulation and well-defined, small-scale experiments to build large-scale models that can accurately predict the complex real-world behavior of adsorption-based heating and cooling systems. This approach significantly reduces the need to build full-size physical prototypes, saving both time and money. One key objective is to optimize the uptake speed and capacity of the thin sorbent layers used in the system. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, the team can simulate coupled physics in complex and dynamic systems, which has proven indispensable for their research. In optimizing heat exchanger architectures, Fugmann performs basic research on designs, including chillers and heat pumps, using wire structures to increase heat transfer surface area. These novel architectures are analyzed both experimentally and numerically for use as sorptive-coated structures and as surface enlargement for heat exchangers in thermal storages. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Buildings

Renewable Energy

Applicable Functions

Facility Management

Maintenance

Use Cases

Building Energy Management

Energy Management System

Predictive Maintenance

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

The heating and cooling of buildings account for nearly 50 percent of energy consumption in Europe, prompting researchers to seek alternatives to conventional technologies. One promising solution is adsorption-based heating and cooling systems driven by heat rather than electricity. This technology can utilize heat from solar collectors, waste heat from industrial facilities, or combined heat and power units, significantly reducing electricity consumption and CO2 emissions. However, the development of these systems is complex due to their discontinuous operating cycles, varying peak energy fluxes, and the dynamic behavior determined by complex heat and mass transfer phenomena. To realize their full potential, the technology must become more efficient, compact, and cost-effective.

About Customer

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany, is one of the world's leading research organizations in the field of solar energy transformation, storage, and use. With a staff of approximately 1,300 employees, the institute is part of a network of over 65 Fraunhofer research institutes in Germany specializing in various aspects of applied science. Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE, including Eric Laurenz and Hannes Fugmann, are part of a 20-person group led by Lena Schnabel, focusing on developing higher-efficiency heat exchangers for adsorption systems. The team uses a combination of simulation and small-scale experiments to build large-scale models that accurately predict the complex real-world behavior of the physics being investigated.

Solution

The team at Fraunhofer ISE uses a combination of simulation and well-defined, small-scale experiments to build large-scale models that can accurately predict the complex real-world behavior of adsorption-based heating and cooling systems. This approach significantly reduces the need to build full-size physical prototypes, saving both time and money. One key objective is to optimize the uptake speed and capacity of the thin sorbent layers used in the system. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, the team can simulate coupled physics in complex and dynamic systems, which has proven indispensable for their research. In optimizing heat exchanger architectures, Fugmann performs basic research on designs, including chillers and heat pumps, using wire structures to increase heat transfer surface area. These novel architectures are analyzed both experimentally and numerically for use as sorptive-coated structures and as surface enlargement for heat exchangers in thermal storages.

Impact #1	The team uses a combination of simulation and small-scale experiments to build large-scale models, reducing the need for full-size physical prototypes.
Impact #2	The ability to simulate coupled physics in complex and dynamic systems has proven indispensable for much of their research.
Impact #3	Novel heat exchanger architectures using wire structures are analyzed both experimentally and numerically for use in adsorption systems.

Impact #1

The team uses a combination of simulation and small-scale experiments to build large-scale models, reducing the need for full-size physical prototypes.

Impact #2

The ability to simulate coupled physics in complex and dynamic systems has proven indispensable for much of their research.

Impact #3

Novel heat exchanger architectures using wire structures are analyzed both experimentally and numerically for use in adsorption systems.

Benefit #1	Adsorption technology offers the possibility of significantly reducing electricity consumption and associated CO2 emissions.
Benefit #2	Heat storage capacity can store up to three times the energy stored using traditional hot water systems.

Benefit #1

Adsorption technology offers the possibility of significantly reducing electricity consumption and associated CO2 emissions.

Benefit #2

Heat storage capacity can store up to three times the energy stored using traditional hot water systems.

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Overview

Better Ways to Heat and Cool Buildings

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit