KTH wisdom in new Wisdome
Wisdome Stockholm – KTH have more than one finger in the pie in the new spectacular attraction at Tekniska Museet, aimed to display science and innovation in new ways. Here, the researchers are redefining the future of heating and cooling systems.
Get ready to embark on an extraordinary journey into the world of science and innovation. Wisdome Stockholm, the upcoming attraction at the Technical Museum, is set to redefine the way we experience complex scientific concepts. Opening its doors this December, the visualization center is a collaborative effort involving leading science centers, universities, and research environments, all converging to transform intricate science into captivating visual wonders for visitors.
But Wisdome Stockholm is not just about what meets the eye; beyond the stunning visuals on the giant screen and the architectural marvel that is this center, lies a state-of-the-art air conditioning system. With ten boreholes in the ground, advanced control technology, and a multitude of sensors, it's a system designed for maximum efficiency in heating and cooling. And this is where KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) researchers step into the spotlight.
"We have been involved as technical experts in geothermal installations and in monitoring " says KTH researcher Alberto Lazzarotto , who has worked together with the Technical Museum and with the heat pump manufacturer Nibe on the project for two and half years.
The vision is not only to astound visitors, but also to educate them about the intricacies of the building's air conditioning system. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe how much heating or cooling the facility uses at any given time, what the temperature of the ground is, the temperature at which heating and cooling are delivered, and how much electricity that is necessary to run the heat pumps and circulation pumps in the system.
"It becomes a kind of educational attraction in itself. Here, we will help suggest how to present this data.”
Yet, from Alberto’s perspective, the challenge has been planning this when the project was still in its infancy.
"It is an impressive project with many technical challenges. We who work with the systems for heating, cooling must have an idea of the data, information and energy performance that we want to display early in the project and plan the monitoring system accordingly. It is difficult and costly to change the heating system and its monitoring at a later stage," says Alberto Lazzarotto.
Parallel to the construction, a European research project is also underway at Wisdome Stockholm, which Alberto is involved in. Here, the researchers will develop more efficient solutions for geothermal energy, and KTH will contribute to developing a control system for geothermal energy. In Sweden, NIBE, KTH, Bengt Dahlgren, and SGU collaborate with several actors in Europe, and the ultimate goal is to find even more efficient heating systems and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
"I am thrilled to be part of the Wisdome Stockholm project, it’s an amazing building. Furthermore, it is a great opportunity to showcase geothermal heat pumps, and will give KTH a lot of visibility.”
Text: Anna Gullers
