PRESS RELEASE
PI 05/2023 · 11 December 2023
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SAMSON tests AI to achieve an efficient control of solar thermal plants as part of a research alliance with Solites and SAMSON KT-Elektronik
-	Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to advance the energy transition in Germany
-	Field-tested by the Düsseldorf municipal service company
-	Solution to be integrated into SAMSON's product portfolio and already used by many German municipal service companies
SAMSON, an international supplier of control engineering solutions, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, has launched a pioneering research project based on machine learning (ML). The technology helps to use renewable energies efficiently and drive forward the energy transition in Germany. The project worth EUR 1.92 million is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It focuses on the development of auto-adaptive algorithms to optimize feed-in substations and domestic substations especially for solar thermal plants.
SAMSON coordinates the "saM_soL" project in cooperation with Solites, a research institute belonging to the Steinbeis network, and KT-Elektronik, a SAMSON Group company. Solites' research work includes the development of machine-learning algorithms. SAMSON contributes its extensive control engineering expertise and many years' experience in the development of highly modern control systems. The German research center Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) acts as sponsor for the project.
The control is based on an integrated PID (proportional-integral-derivative) algorithm to control processes in heating networks. A virtualization of the thermal solar plant control generates a digital twin, which is used to train the underlying model. In practice, the ML model adapts the control parameters to the specific plant requirements based on external influences. The aim for the future is to extend the control to optimize both central and distributed feed-in substations in heat generation plants, which depend on fluctuating energy sources. The research project focuses on solar thermal energy since this energy source is particularly prone to fluctuation. A field test was carried out by the Düsseldorf municipal service company (Stadtwerke Düsseldorf AG) on a distributed feed-in substation, which feeds solar thermal heat into the district heating network. The plant with a 232 m² collector surface area heats the return flow from the district heating network to the temperature of the network's supply flow.
Dr. Andreas Widl, CEO of SAMSON AG, comments: "The use of artificial intelligence in control engineering breaks new ground, making energy supplies more efficient and sustainable. This pilot project marks a crucial step towards a smart energy management to increase efficiency and integrate renewable energies in the best possible way. SAMSON is proud to be part of this project. Our aim is to help achieve a future that does not waste resources."
The project manager at SAMSON Mr. André Strauch adds: "The solution will ultimately minimize material wear and scale down temperature fluctuations. It will also help save resources in CHP plants and heat generation plants. This exceptional solution will allow SAMSON to upgrade its digital product portfolio for applications worldwide. With it, our customers will be able to further boost sustainability in the energy sector."
Mr. Thilo Walser, responsible for the project at Solites: "Our role in the saM_soL project is to develop a ML algorithm in the virtual model and train it for real-life operation. From a scientific viewpoint, this new approach opens up huge potential for improving the control of heat generation plants that depend on a strongly fluctuating energy source. After the solution is proven in the field, the aim is to apply this approach to all kinds of feed-in substations.
After the project has come to a successful conclusion, the developed solution will be integrated into SAM DISTRICT ENERGY, SAMSON's digital portal for heat distribution (local/district heating or cooling), which is used by many German municipal service companies to manage, operate and optimize their district heating systems. The project will run until May 2027.
About SAMSON:
SAMSON, a medium-sized company headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, develops and manufactures control valves, actuators, self-operated regulators, automation systems and digital solutions. They are used to control the flow of liquids, gases, steam and other media. SAMSON's products and services focus on the safety and reliability of industrial process plants as well as trending topics, such as digitalization, sustainability and the energy transition. In the district heating sector, the key to climate-neutral cities in Germany, SAMSON is market leader: its valves, regulators, controllers, actuators and components in transfer stations are standard products used by numerous municipal service companies in all large German cities. SAMSON's components are installed in more than 65 % of all district heating networks in Germany. The SAMSON Group employs 4500 staff members and manufactures at 18 sites in nine different countries.

SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Weismuellerstrasse 3 · 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Phone: +49 69 4009-0 · Fax: +49 69 4009-1507
E-mail: samson@samsongroup.com · Internet: www.samsongroup.com
Contact for press inquiries:
SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Alia Begisheva
Phone: +49 69 4009-1120
E-mail: press-de@samsongroup.com
Internet: www.samsongroup.com