A lack of knowledge about the condition of district heating pipes can result in pipes being replaced either too early or too late, leading to unnecessary use of resources, operational disruptions or damage.
The project investigates how autonomous inspection and data-driven condition assessment can provide a stronger basis for predictive maintenance of district heating pipes. In a collaboration between CETO Innovation, Fors A/S and the Danish Technological Institute, an automated inspection system is being developed to examine pipes without excavation and collect data on their condition. The aim is to enable maintenance and renovation to be planned to a greater extent on the basis of objective data and risk assessment, helping to extend the lifetime of the pipes and reduce unnecessary replacements.
New solutions for maintaining district heating networks
Development of the autonomous inspection probe is underway. CETO Innovation is working on the probe’s mechanical and electronic design, materials, waterproofing and sensors, while the Danish Technological Institute and Fors A/S contribute knowledge and data on district heating networks, corrosion and relevant operating conditions.
The project is organised into five work packages, ranging from baseline mapping and corrosion analysis to the development of the probe’s design, propulsion system, sensors and integrated pilot testing.
Data and testing in the district heating network
The Danish Technological Institute has collected information about the district heating system and taken water samples from both the supply and return lines at the central station in Roskilde. Additional sampling in Jyderup is planned in collaboration with Fors A/S. These data will be used to investigate the underlying causes of corrosion and determine what the probe should be able to detect, as well as which operating parameters can best be used as indicators for predictive maintenance.
Fors A/S has also collected and shared information on pipelines, operations and previous damage and has assisted with the sampling. Fors provides access to the district heating network and relevant technical expertise, with the aim of improving condition assessment of pipelines and, in the longer term, enabling more precise planning of maintenance and renovation.
Part of a larger water technology initiative
The Predictive Maintenance of District Heating Pipes project is part of a larger innovation initiative in Central Denmark, where water technology companies, knowledge institutions, utilities and industrial stakeholders develop and test new solutions for the water sector. The initiative is called Water Valley Innovation and forms part of Denmark’s Business Lighthouse for Water Technology. It builds on the collaboration around Water Valley Denmark in Aarhus and Klimatorium in Lemvig.
Read more about the Water Valley Innovation project here.
Funding
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund and the Danish Board of Business Development as part of Virksomhedsudvikling Danmark.
