The initial situation:
Fernheizwerk Neukölln AG is the local heating supplier for Berlin-Neukölln and supplies around 40,000 households with district heating. In 2014/2015, the main shareholder, VATtenfall Europe Wärme AG, invested around EUR 12.5 million in the modernisation of the plant. The existing heat storage tank was also completely refurbished.

The customer’s wish:
The client wanted a unique lighting solution that displayed the temperature conditions inside the 22-metre-high thermal store on the outside.

Our solution:
With creativity and sound expertise in electrical engineering, we were once again able to develop and implement an ideal solution. A 20 metre high light column was specially developed and installed on the outside of the hot water tank. The challenge was to design the column in such a way that it could be securely fastened, was windproof and weatherproof. The column also had to be able to withstand the heat radiation from the storage tank. The LED technology used should emit rotationally symmetrical light and the respective light colours should be clearly visible even in sunny light conditions. A Pt100 resistance thermometer with platinum sensor elements that change their electrical resistance depending on the temperature was used. Colour changes are also generated with special control and switching electronics using DMX, a digital control protocol from stage technology. The finished light column therefore shows four colour gradients, with each colour representing a different temperature range.

The result delighted everyone. The technician is informed about the processes in the thermal store at a glance, without having to visit the control room. The light column we developed for the district power plant is not only a great technical solution, but also attracts attention and visually enhances the massive heat storage facility.