In the context of a district heating network comprising several dozen substations, the operator was faced with a common but difficult challenge: excessively high return temperatures from a small number of sites were impairing the efficiency of the network as a whole. In the absence of intelligent diagnostic tools, these problematic substations remained invisible in the mass of data, resulting in over-consumption of energy, increased heat losses and unnecessary pressure on heat generators.
In a large-scale heating network, each substation plays a role in the overall thermal balance. But in practice, only a minority of them are responsible for the most penalizing drifts (return too hot, erratic cycles, under-utilization, etc.). Lack of operational visibility and limited team time make it difficult to identify substations with real problems, resulting in :
- Average return temperature too high
- Significant heat loss in the networks
- Reduced efficiency of production units (condensation, cogeneration, Coefficient of Performance [COP])
- Impossible to absorb new connections without reinforcing infrastructures
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Dyneo connects all substations to a suite of algorithms dedicated to continuous analysis of thermal and hydraulic performance. This system enables :
- Detailed analysis of the hydraulic behavior of each delivery point (return temperatures, power demand, recovery dynamics, etc.).
- Compare substations based on actual network conditions, not a theoretical model
- Identify malfunctions: hot loops, blocked valves, incorrectly parameterized controls, etc.
- Prioritize anomalies according to their impact on overall return temperature
- Automatically generate intervention lists.
This system transforms the management of complex networks into a data-driven, results-oriented approach.
A strategic challenge for major networks
In a network comprising several hundred or even thousands of substations, each degree of return temperature reduction represents several thousand francs saved every year. It's also a major lever for guaranteeing the performance of production resources (yield, available capacity) and controlling operating costs.
Without an automated prioritization system, this potential for improvement remains largely untapped.
An operational, high-leverage approach
Dyneo enables operators to switch from a curative mode to proactive thermal performance management. Unlike spreadsheet-based monitoring methods or one-off analysis, the platform relies on continuously measured data. This enables anomalies to be detected in a matter of hours, on the basis of actual signals, rather than by deviation from an often obsolete reference state.
Results observed on dozens of substations: up to 20°C reduction in return temperature for certain substations identified as critical.
But also:
- Overall reduction of 10 to 15°C in network return temperature, improving production efficiency
- Reduces heat loss by 8-15%, depending on network configuration
- Operational time saved: teams focus on the 20% of substations responsible for 80% of losses
- Capacity to integrate new customers without expansion work, thanks to power release
- Compliance with the requirements of a network qualified as efficient according to European criteria (EED).
