Efficient Building and Systems Technology

Project duration: 01.09.2017 - 31.08.2020

In the AlgNutrient-UrBioSol project, scientists from solar research and the bioeconomy are working together on solutions for using microalgae to produce biomass in an energy- and cost-efficient way.

Microalgae are true workhorses among plants; they convert_{CO2 from the} atmosphere into biomass, and at the same time they can filter substances such as phosphate, nitrate and sulphur compounds from wastewater as natural "sewage treatment plants". This is increasingly being exploited internationally in various photobioreactor concepts.

Research is being conducted with the partners on existing and new photobioreactor systems that can be used in modern agriculture for microalgae production in order to make the bioeconomic potential of microalgae more economically viable. The development focus includes the use of adapted materials to improve light utilisation and thus increase the overall efficiency of the photobioreactors. At the Solar Institute Jülich, research is being conducted into various suitable optical systems for directing and concentrating light. In addition to theoretical studies in the form of ray tracing simulations, the first prototypes of the photobioreactors are also being constructed and realised, which will be optically measured for validation.

Project partners:

• Institute for Bio- and Geosciences - Plant Sciences of the Research Centre Jülich.
• Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Kurchatov Institute

Project duration: January 2014 - December 2017

The increasing use of renewable energy technologies to meet energy demand requires the development of technical solutions for efficient, flexible and cost-effective generation and load management.

An interdisciplinary research network consisting of the Solar Institute Jülich and the Faculties of Energy Technology, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology as well as Civil Engineering at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences is dedicated to the challenge of equipping buildings with heat pumps (HP) or combined heat and power (CHP) units and thermal storage capability. In this way, they act as an interface between the electricity and heating markets and contribute to balancing out fluctuations in the electricity grid.

In addition to generator management and building load management, the concept to be developed also includes man-machine communication. This opens up the possibility of efficiently using excess capacities in the fluctuating energy supply from renewable sources and stabilising the electricity grid by providing positive and negative control power. Using the example of a fictitious reference building (hardware-in-the-loop, simulation), the potential of the concept is determined, whereby in particular the decision-making scope for the operator in the interplay of CHP, heat pump and storage capacity is prepared and presented, taking into account the weather and usage forecast as well as the requirements from the electricity grid.

Project funding:

Project duration: February 2022 - August 2022

umlaut SE, the Institute NOWUM-Energy and the Solar Institute Jülich were commissioned by the copper town of Stolberg, the Aachen city region, the Aachen Chamber of Industry and Commerce and AGIT mbh to carry out a study on the climate-friendly transformation of industry in Stolberg. This study is set in the context of the challenges of structural change and the energy transition in the Aachen region as well as the reconstruction efforts following the floods in July 2021. The project is supported by the majority of the industrial companies located in the Stolberg valley axis. The aim of the study is to draw up a roadmap for the decarbonisation of Stolberg's industry and a funding application for a core project that represents the start of this roadmap.

At the beginning of the study, basic consumption and process data will be collected with the help of a questionnaire and inspections of the participating industrial companies and analysed with regard to energy saving and substitution potential. Furthermore, the potential of the entire Stolberg region for the further expansion of a regenerative energy supply infrastructure is analysed. On this basis, project ideas for the climate-friendly transformation of the valley axis will be developed. In consultation with the clients and industrial companies, a core project idea is determined for which a suitable funding programme is identified and a funding application is drawn up. This funding application is submitted to the client at the end of the project together with the roadmap, which also contains the other project ideas developed.

Project partner:

• umlaut SE
• Institute NOWUM-Energy of the FH Aachen

Client:

• Kupferstadt Stolberg
• Aachen city region
• Aachen Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Aachener Gesellschaft für Innovation und Technologietransfer mbH

Project duration: 01.03.2007 - 31.12.2010

The aim of the project is to develop a concept to use the heat of the air contained in the sewer for heating purposes via a heat pump. The enthalpy contained in the air is to be transferred to the brine circuit via a heat exchanger. After analysing the thermal supply of the sewer air and measuring the energy content, an odour filter and gas analysis will be carried out. Here, the explosion risk of the duct exhaust air as well as its germ load is investigated.
Subsequently, a filter is designed under odour-technical aspects. Finally, a pilot system will be installed in a detached house and measured and optimised over a period of one and a half years

Project funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research, FHProfUnt programme

Project partner(s):

• Wallstein
• Environmental Technology GmbH
• B+W GmbH

Since the summer of 2016, the Jülich Solar Institute of the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences has had access to a state-of-the-art diesel engine test bench for research and development purposes on the Jülich campus.

A turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel engine (55.4 kW) from Deutz is currently being measured on the engine test bench and used in various research projects.

The measurement of exhaust gases (chemical composition, analysis of solid components), engine performance determination and fuel consumption measurements complete a multifunctional diesel engine test bench. The research projects carried out on the new diesel engine test bench with a focus on "innovative diesel particle filters, mixers for selective catalytic reduction and components for heat recovery" strengthen above all the declared research focus of "mobility" at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Due to the special individual design of the test stand, operation with alternative fuels is also possible.

Funded by:

• German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

The Science College Overbach (SCO) was built as an educational centre for science, communication and innovation by the Order of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in Jülich-Barmen in 2009 (1640 m2 HNF). The new buildings of the SCO pursue three main goals from an energy point of view: an energy concept consisting of a high thermal insulation standard, innovative façade elements and a LOW-EX supply concept; the school body itself serves as a teaching object that offers a pleasant learning atmosphere and makes efficient technology tangible and tangible; innovative components such as vacuum insulation, electrochromic panes and daylight systems are used.
The most important planning decisions are made in an integral planning phase (client, planner, operator, scientific support). Quality assurance measures are carried out during the construction phase. The monitoring phases include operational optimisation and sustainable embedding in the use.

A clear overview of the project can be found here: http: //www.science-college.fh-aachen.de/.

Partner:s:

• Order of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
• Engineering office for environmental issues
• HAHN HELTEN + ASSOCIATES
• Engineering office INCO GmbH

Project start: January 2020

Duration: 1.5 years

Algae are photosynthetically active organisms and can accumulate large amounts of nutrients. For example, they can contribute to the removal of nitrates and phosphates from wastewater streams and thus help reduce surface and groundwater pollution. The processing of nutrients from waste streams by algae is an emerging technology that will help regionally in the bioeconomy area to implement intensive agriculture without increasing water pollution, but at the same time can be exported to other regions worldwide. The biomass obtained can also be further used in biorefineries and converted into higher-value products. In a global context, algal biomass extracted from wastewater (e.g. from the food industry) is also a promising material basis for stemming the ongoing desertification in remote regions.

To demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of this new technology in "structural change", a scalable demonstrator is being developed consisting of linkable modules based on 20-foot ISO containers. Two modules are being built as demonstrators by SIJ and IBG-2; an algae photobioreactor module and a spectral module that provides light and energy from sunlight. Both systems are part of the demonstrator "Container-based Biorefinery".

Project partners:

• Forschungszentrum Jülich / Institute of Biosciences and Geosciences 1: Plant Sciences (IBG-2).

Project start: 01.03.2017

In principle, a wide range of technologies and systems can be used for cooling buildings. When planning these cooling systems, simulation and planning tools are necessary in order to be able to map and compare the diverse range of conventional and innovative cooling technologies. Because suitable planning and calculation tools have been lacking up to now, an objective comparison of technologies with regard to efficiency and cost-effectiveness is made difficult. The "Coolplan-AIR" project is helping to close this gap.

The main objective of the project is to extend the planning tool developed in the previous project "Coolplan" for efficient technologies for cooling buildings based on liquid heat carriers to air-supported systems. These include VRF multi-split systems, adiabatic cooling systems and air-to-air heat pumps. In addition, innovative enclosures for solar cooling will be integrated and measurements of the overall systems will be carried out using practical systems in the field.

Project partners:

• ETU
• Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences
• Centre for Innovative Energy Systems

Project duration: January 2019 - December 2023

The primary objective of the research project is to develop a procedure for the ecological assessment, optimisation and control of technical building enclosures based on a dynamic life cycle analysis, taking into account both short-term (hourly fluctuations in specific emissions (g CO2/kWh) from electricity generation) and long-term (decarbonisation of the electricity market) effects. The project uses current scenarios that simulate the dynamically developing energy market over a period of several decades. Accordingly, data sets with a high temporal resolution of the emissions that have an impact on the life cycle assessment are generated. In this respect, the aim is to further develop a simulation tool in MATLAB/Simulink for the dynamic simulation of thermotechnical systems with the additional sectors of the electricity market and transport in combination with a limited load flow calculation for the electricity supply network to be analysed and a freely definable balance area. The method should be applicable to both individual buildings and neighbourhoods.

Project partner:

• Viessmann Werke GmbH & Co.
• ina Planungsgesellschaft mbH

Project sponsor:

• Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Project duration: 01.11.2016 - 31.10.2019

This joint project aims to lay the foundations for a remote sensing measurement and analysis system that can be used to analyse building envelopes, identify weak points and detect causes of increased energy losses. In this way, precise planning of renovation measures on buildings and, prospectively, on groups of buildings is to be made possible, with the focus on optimising resource consumption and minimising the payback period.

The participating DLR Institutes for Solar Research, High Frequency Technology and Radar Systems, Remote Sensing Methodology and Optical Sensor Systems have many years of experience in the field of sensor technology and in the analysis of complex energy systems. The Solar Institute Jülich, for its part, has many years of practical experience in the energy and building physics assessment of buildings and the planning of renovation measures. The equipment and experience of the Solar Institute Jülich will be brought into the project with the aim of investigating the measurement system to be developed with regard to the scope and accuracy of the recorded data and generating a comprehensive data basis for validation.

Funded by:

• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy within the framework of the 6th Energy Research Programme of the Federal Government with the funding priority "Energy-optimised buildings and neighbourhoods".

Coordinator and collaborative partner:

• German Aerospace Center e. V.

SEG Jülich is planning a new development area for single and multi-family homes, a daycare centre and a healthcare facility. In addition, at least 8 plots are to be created for so-called "tiny houses".

On behalf of Stadtwerke Jülich (SWJ) and Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft (SEG), SIJ is preparing an energy concept study in collaboration with Fraunhofer-IEG, which includes the following points:

• Assumptions on heating/cooling and electricity requirements and other relevant parameters are agreed with the client.
• Definition of reference buildings to KfW55 standard with air-to-water heat pumps, PV systems and a wallbox with 11 kW charging capacity.
• In a first step, 10 alternative concept variants including grid-based solutions are developed, described and dimensioned and assessed using generalised empirical values with regard to technical and economic properties according to the Typtage method. An evaluation matrix is agreed with the client.

Three variants are selected together with SEG/SWJ, which are then evaluated and optimised in more detail in dynamic simulation calculations. Demand scenarios are calculated on the basis of weather data (1 current, 1 future year), whereby total demand and peak load are determined. An investment and operating cost estimate is carried out in each case, as well as a climate impact assessment in_{CO2 equivalents}. The robustness of the calculations is checked by means of sensitivity analyses (weather, load profiles, key cost assumptions).

Project duration: August 2012 - June 2015

The realisation of an innovative energy and water supply for buildings and commercial enclosures requires the development of possibilities and framework conditions. In cooperation with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Green Building Council (Emirate of Qatar), the SIJ is working on this issue to increase energy efficiency in buildings.

The focus is on supporting concrete projects, such as the Baytna Passive House. The SIJ develops concepts to increase energy efficiency in buildings and facilities. For this purpose, the energy consumption and energy efficiency of selected objects are analysed on the basis of building analyses as well as dynamic simulation calculations and measurements of energy flows and media temperatures. Based on dynamic building and system simulation models, optimisation solutions are developed that lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption. Given the prevailing climate, the feasibility studies primarily concern building cooling and take into account local boundary conditions, requirements for general thermal comfort and available technologies. Possibilities for retrofitting building-integrated renewable energy sources have priority over new construction or total renovation.

Project funding: Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology