Evaluation of Surplus Heat Integration from a Power-to-X Facility within the Future Viborg District Heating Network
Author
Cano Varela, Maria Teresa
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2026
Abstract
This thesis studies a 15 MW Power‑to‑Methanol (PtM) plant modeled in the Aspen Plus process simulation tool. PtM uses electricity to produce hydrogen via PEM electrolyzers (Proton Exchange Membrane), which split water, and the hydrogen is then converted into methanol. The work evaluates how best to recover and integrate the plant’s surplus heat into a District Heating System (DHS), including an optimization to find the most suitable connection points. The main goal is to compare the heat‑recovery potential of this PtM plant with an innovative facility under construction that captures surplus heat from a data center and electrical transformers and uses heat pumps to raise the temperature to delivery levels. Year‑round simulations in EnergyPro estimate how much excess heat the PtM plant can provide. This is combined with wind and solar PV generation profiles derived from local weather data and sized to match the planned renewable plants. The results indicate that the PtM plant can supply a significant and stable baseload of heat, but there is not enough evidence to conclude it could replace the facility now being built. Instead, the PtM plant’s excess heat could help accommodate future growth in Viborg’s heating demand.
Denne kandidatopgave undersøger et 15 MW Power‑to‑Methanol (PtM)‑anlæg, modelleret i procesprogrammet Aspen Plus. PtM bruger elektricitet til at producere brint via PEM‑elektrolyse (Proton Exchange Membrane), som spalter vand, hvorefter brinten omdannes til metanol. Studiet vurderer, hvordan overskudsvarmen fra anlægget bedst kan udnyttes i et fjernvarmesystem (DHS), og optimerer, hvor i systemet varmen mest hensigtsmæssigt kan kobles ind. Hovedformålet er at sammenligne anlæggets potentiale for varmegenvinding med et nyt, under opførelse, der udnytter overskudsvarme fra et datacenter og el‑transformere og bruger varmepumper til at hæve temperaturen til leveringsniveau. Årssimuleringer i EnergyPro vurderer, hvor meget overskudsvarme PtM‑anlægget kan levere over året. Dette kobles med vind- og solcelleprofiler baseret på lokale vejrdata og dimensioneret efter de planlagte vedvarende anlæg. Resultaterne viser, at PtM‑anlægget kan yde en betydelig og stabil grundlast til fjernvarmen, men der er ikke grundlag for at konkludere, at det kan erstatte det anlæg, der er under opførelse. Derimod kan overskudsvarmen fra PtM være et solidt bidrag til at dække fremtidig vækst i Viborgs varmebehov.
[This abstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]