Researchers engaged on the ASTEP challenge, a European Union Horizon 2020 collaborative challenge, and a key initiative inside the Crowdhelix Photo voltaic Power Helix, have developed what they describe as a cutting-edge photo voltaic heating and cooling expertise 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 answer that may each warmth steam to 175°C for milk pasteurisation and maintain 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 way of photo voltaic thermal applied sciences.
Decreasing operational and set up prices is a key aim for researchers engaged on the ASTEP challenge, who designed SunDial in such a means that it may be put in simply utilizing modular parts.
Moreover, SunDial be tailored to enrich completely different industrial processes and may be built-in into current processes safely. The system may use a two-axis monitoring system and not using a vital improve in prices, resulting in improved efficiency and better working temperatures.
Now at Expertise Readiness Stage 3, Prof. Antonio Rovira from Nationwide College of Distance Schooling (Spain) believes that ASTEP’s SunDial can assist to decrease power consumption whereas sustaining productiveness: “One in every of our case research is a dairy that requires each the era of steam and cooling. The ASTEP challenge proposes a viable idea to display the viability of utilizing photo voltaic thermal power for heating and cooling, that’s each value efficient and environmentally accountable”.
The ASTEP challenge brings collectively world-leading lecturers, trade consultants, and high-tech SMEs from 16 completely different European international locations. It is usually the important thing challenge inside Crowdhelix’s Photo voltaic Power Helix which goals to foster collaboration throughout photo voltaic’s quickly increasing world worth chain.
Crowdhelix CEO, Michael Browne, believes that the event of improvements like ASTEP’s SunDial may be accelerated by bringing progressive enterprise leaders and thought-leading lecturers collectively in order that they will collaboratively develop climate-friendly options that meet the wants of trade.
“Our Photo voltaic Power Helix has turn out to be a thriving neighborhood of almost 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 that you may construct the options that may generate a major impression”.
“ASTEP’s SunDial demonstrates what may 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 got 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”.
“By means of our assist, collaborative analysis groups can spend extra time specializing in constructing impactful options like SunDial”.