Researchers engaged on the ASTEP mission, a European Union Horizon 2020 collaborative mission, and a key initiative throughout the Crowdhelix Photo voltaic Vitality Helix, have developed what they describe as a cutting-edge photo voltaic heating and cooling know-how for dairy trade processes: the SunDial Photo voltaic Collector.
SunDial is present process trials at Mandrekas, a distinguished dairy operation situated in Corinth, Greece. Mandrekas’ particular necessities centred round constructing a single resolution that may each warmth steam to 175°C for milk pasteurisation and preserve yoghurt chilled at round 5°C.
To maximise effectivity, SunDial harvests daylight utilizing a rotary system the place eight mirror arrays are put in on a platform that tracks the solar. If trialled efficiently, SunDial will decrease operational prices for dairy producers whereas additionally serving to to decarbonise the manufacturing course of by means of photo voltaic thermal applied sciences.
Decreasing operational and set up prices is a key objective for researchers engaged on the ASTEP mission, who designed SunDial in such a manner that it may be put in simply utilizing modular parts.
Moreover, SunDial be tailored to enrich completely different industrial processes and might be built-in into current processes safely. The system may also use a two-axis monitoring system with out a important enhance in prices, resulting in improved efficiency and better working temperatures.
Now at Know-how Readiness Stage 3, Prof. Antonio Rovira from Nationwide College of Distance Schooling (Spain) believes that ASTEP’s SunDial will help to decrease power consumption whereas sustaining productiveness: “One among our case research is a dairy that requires each the technology of steam and cooling. The ASTEP mission proposes a viable idea to exhibit the viability of utilizing photo voltaic thermal power for heating and cooling, that’s each value efficient and environmentally accountable”.
The ASTEP mission brings collectively world-leading lecturers, trade consultants, and high-tech SMEs from 16 completely different European international locations. It is usually the important thing mission inside Crowdhelix’s Photo voltaic Vitality Helix which goals to foster collaboration throughout photo voltaic’s quickly increasing international worth chain.
Crowdhelix CEO, Michael Browne, believes that the event of improvements like ASTEP’s SunDial might be accelerated by bringing progressive enterprise leaders and thought-leading lecturers collectively in order that they’ll collaboratively develop climate-friendly options that meet the wants of trade.
“Our Photo voltaic Vitality Helix has change into a thriving neighborhood of practically 500 consultants and stakeholders who’re positioned at key junctions all through the photo voltaic trade’s burgeoning worth chains”.
“It’s only by bringing collectively all of the stakeholders throughout key strategic areas you can construct the options that can generate a big affect”.
“ASTEP’s SunDial demonstrates what might be achieved when researchers and progressive companies collaborate to assemble an answer that may decrease manufacturing prices and carbon emissions concurrently.
“Constructing these groups can take time, which is why we’ve constructed an end-to-end open innovation platform that permits researchers and trade consultants to construct strategic partnerships and to showcase improvements to finish customers as quickly as they’re developed”.
“Via our assist, collaborative analysis groups can spend extra time specializing in constructing impactful options like SunDial”.
