The GOcontroll Moduline Mini delivers precise, efficient control for thermal energy storage systems using modular I/O and intelligent automation.

Efficient heat storage and recovery are vital to sustainable energy infrastructures. The GOcontroll Moduline Mini provides a compact, modular, and intelligent solution for controlling thermal energy storage systems. Acting as a Thermal Energy Storage Controller, it manages temperature sensors, pumps, and valves in real time, optimizing heat charge and discharge cycles. Whether for water-based tanks, molten salts, or phase-change materials, it ensures maximum efficiency and renewable integration across industrial, building, or district heating networks.

A Thermal Energy Storage Controller coordinates the flow of thermal energy between generation, storage, and consumption points. The Moduline Mini takes this role by:

• Monitoring real-time temperatures at multiple storage layers.

• Controlling pump and valve operation to balance charging and discharging.

• Managing flow direction and volume based on system demand.

• Enabling peak shaving and time-shifted energy use.

By combining sensor inputs with smart control logic, the system prevents overheating, ensures stable operation, and reduces energy waste—ideal for renewable-based systems using solar thermal, waste heat recovery, or industrial process energy.

The GOcontroll Moduline Mini is built for flexibility. Its modular hardware design allows up to four I/O modules, making it easy to adapt to different system scales and storage materials.

A typical thermal energy setup includes:

• Temperature sensors  to measure fluid or storage medium temperature.

• Flow sensors for real-time circulation feedback.

• Pump and valve control outputs (PWM or relay).

• Pressure sensors to maintain safe system operation.

The controller’s robust IP66 equivalent housing ensures durability in mechanical rooms or outdoor installations. The Moduline Mini’s small footprint allows installation directly on or near storage tanks, reducing wiring complexity and response time.

Thermal energy systems often operate as part of a larger network. The Moduline Mini supports CAN, Modbus, and Ethernet communication protocols, enabling seamless integration with building management or district heating systems.

Examples of connectivity include:

• CAN for pump or actuator networks.

• Modbus RTU/TCP for industrial or SCADA integration.

• Ethernet for supervisory control and remote data access.

The controller can exchange real-time data such as flow rates, storage temperature profiles, and energy transfer metrics with higher-level systems, ensuring optimal operation and grid responsiveness.

Control engineers can configure the Moduline Mini using MATLAB Simulink or Node-RED. This flexibility allows the creation of advanced control algorithms to manage charging and discharging cycles dynamically.

Example control routines include:

• Charging the storage tank when renewable heat is available.

• Discharging heat during high demand or peak load periods.

• Maintaining optimal temperature stratification within the tank.

• Predictive control using weather or demand forecasts.

Because the controller runs a Linux-based real-time operating system, it executes these routines with high reliability and precise timing, essential for maintaining thermal balance in large installations.

Long-term efficiency tracking is supported through built-in data logging and cloud connectivity. Using GOcontroll Connected services, system operators can:

• Monitor temperature trends and energy flow in real time.

• Perform predictive maintenance using logged sensor data.

• Receive alerts or system diagnostics remotely.

Data transparency supports system optimization, lifecycle analysis, and certification for energy efficiency standards.

From small-scale buffer tanks in buildings to large industrial heat reservoirs, the Moduline Mini adapts effortlessly. With modular hardware, open communication interfaces, and customizable software, it supports diverse storage media such as:

• Water-based systems for building heating.

• Molten salt storage for industrial thermal buffering.

• Phase-change materials (PCM) for compact, high-density energy storage.

This scalability and adaptability make the GOcontroll Moduline Mini a powerful Thermal Energy Storage Controller for modern, renewable-driven infrastructures.