China's first "dark heat exchange station" commenced operations in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, marking a milestone in intelligent heating management.

The "dark heat exchange station", established by Jinan Heating Group Co Ltd, is located in Hengda Yueting residential area and operates entirely without on-site personnel. The so-called "dark mode" refers to this unmanned operation, enabled by internet of things, big data, artificial intelligence, and automated machines.

The station is capable of autonomous analysis, decision-making, and operation. It integrates multiple subsystems and processes data using AI to achieve precise control across the station, units, and households. As just one example, the system in the station can automatically adjust to temperature drops to maintain stable and comfortable heating.

Heating operations are fully transparent, with real-time monitoring from the heat source to end users. "If an abnormality occurs, the affected area will be highlighted in yellow or red, allowing us to take targeted action," said Dong Rubin, head of the big data department at the group.

The station is also able to carry out 3D visualization of pipeline water injection and intelligent energy management, ensuring residents' comfort while optimizing energy use and distribution. These achievements stem from technological breakthroughs in system integration and AI-driven decision-making.

Looking ahead, the group plans to further empower AI to make independent decisions by analyzing previous data and the connections between weather, user habits, and equipment performance. Automatic troubleshooting will also be explored, with autonomous inspection robots supporting the station to enhance reliability and safety.

At the "dark heat exchange station", machines run autonomously without on-site staff. [Photo/WeChat account: tianxiaquancheng]