Always at the cutting edge. Advancing the energy transition in Engineering & Products.

The SolKaN 2.0 project aims to develop a new generation of local solar heating systems that use water instead of a water/antifreeze mix as the heat transfer fluid. This change is expected to lower investment costs by over 20% and reduce operating expenditure by approximately 10%. Key technical challenges include integrating the ice storage tank and solar air collectors. A heat pump, utilizing natural refrigerants and operating in the range of –10°C to +10°C, discharges the ice storage tank, and its efficiency is crucial. In addition to developing the heat pump, the project focuses on creating an advanced control strategy and testing the SolKaN 2.0 concept at full scale.

The HeaTwin project is designed to support heat supply decarbonization through the automated creation of thermo-hydraulic simulation models (or ‘digital twins’) for complex systems. These models monitor system behaviour, identify deviations from optimal performance, and thereby improve reliability and efficiency. Based on digital system diagrams generated from BIM (building information modelling) data, this methodology is demonstrated with real-world systems, integrating data at system, functional and component levels. The results are intended to aid energy assessments, fault detection and operational optimization.

The DARING project seeks to markedly improve the energy efficiency of heat storage tanks used in building energy systems. It features an innovative sensor technology known as a ‘sensor skin’ that measures temperature profiles across the tank’s surface, allowing for more precise energy control. This can enhance heat pump efficiency by up to 10%. The technology uses printable thin-film electronics, providing flexibility in both form and function, which brings cost savings and a better CO₂ balance. DARING is a collaborative effort among experts from research and industry, including TU Dresden, Viessmann Climate Solutions and Cupasol..

The ELOS project aims to develop regionally customizable heat pump systems using the hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) method, incorporating robust fault detection into the digital production twin. By linking real data with simulation models, the project supports production controls while preparing for regional customization within a modular method framework. An interface is also added so that consumers can independently assess efficiency. The project’s goal is to facilitate manufacturers in implementing digitization strategies across the entire production and product life cycle, paving the way for new business models.

The SHERLOCK research project is focused on optimizing heat pump design for households and businesses using natural refrigerants. The project prioritizes energy efficiency and reduced refrigerant levels by selecting an optimal refrigerant/oil combination and a system design tailored to it. To this end, propane/isobutane mixtures and suitable oils are analysed, and the resulting system behaviour is modelled and tested experimentally. CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulations are employed to enhance components like compressors and heat exchangers, with unique validation data gathered in laboratory settings. The findings are fed into an open-source simulation tool, accelerating the development of more efficient heat pumps and supporting the energy transition.