Modelling and analysis of an energy system for an indoor ice rink.

In Norway, there are approximately 45 indoor ice-rinks that vary substantially concerning their age, offered services and their conditions. Research by the Centre for Sport Facilities and Technology (SIAT) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has shown that the indoor climate and energy use have a large spread. Energy use in ice rinks is mostly triggered by the refrigeration system, dehumidification, heating, ventilation and to a limited extent by the building envelope. The different subsystems are dependent on each other and in order to understand them better a need to develop an energy model for the whole system was identified. This paper presents three dynamic simulation models, that were created using DYMOLA and Modelica. The areas of interest are the potential of heat recovery, the use of geothermal energy, the capacity variations and the energy demand of the facility on an hourly basis. The thermal heat loads which can occur during different periods of the operating season were identified. These loads dictated the use of geothermal energy. The results show that an additional heat source is needed throughout the year. Using an eco-friendly and cost effective heat source like a geothermal well is critical for the energy budget and operating costs. Further the results revealed possibilities for improvement of the simulation models, which will increase the results’ accuracy.