Better Ways to Heat and Cool Buildings
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- Europe
Country
- Germany
Product
- COMSOL Multiphysics
Tech Stack
- Multiphysics Simulation
- Parametric Sweeps
Implementation Scale
- Departmental Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Environmental Impact Reduction
- Energy Saving
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
About The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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