Open source software for planning heating plants and local heating networks

03/14/2023

Source: Centrales Agrar-Rohstoff Marketing- und Energie-Netzwerk e.V.

"Sophena" is an innovative open-source software that enables heat supply projects to be carried out quickly and safely.

The open source software " Sophena " ( So software for P planning of He izwerke and Na hwärmenetzen) offers the possibility to carry out the technical and economic planning of a heat supply project quickly and soundly. At the heart of Sophena is a boiler and buffer storage simulation, from which annual duration curves and key energy figures are determined. CHP plants and heat pumps can also be taken into account. Based on these calculations, an economic efficiency analysis is carried out in accordance with VDI 2067. Further results are among other things a greenhouse gas balance and the heat occupancy density of the net.

The possible circle of users reaches thereby from interested laymen or students up to energy consultants or planning offices. This is made possible by intuitive user guidance and the use of numerous parameters, where the preset default values can be individually modified as needed.

Some of the Sophena features

- Heat network can be planned as a lump sum or in detail
- Any number of heat generators
- Boilers, CHP plants and heat pumps possible
- Generator and consumer load profiles can be integrated
- Boiler and buffer storage simulation
- Annual duration line ordered and unordered
- Energetic key figures
- Investment overview
- Economic efficiency analysis according to VDI 2067
- Consideration of subsidies
- Greenhouse gas balancing
- Primary energy factor
- Comparison of variants
- Visualization on map

The product database

With Sophena, a product database is provided that includes boilers, CHP plants, heat pumps, buffer storage tanks, flue gas cleaning technology, heat recovery plants, heat pipes and house transfer stations. In addition to "standard products" determined by C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V., which represent the average for their respective product class, real products available on the market are also included. Basic technical data are stored for all products. In addition, average prices are determined and shown for the standard products.'

Further information can be found here .