The HyCool Consortium visited Feldkirchen a.d. Donau, near Linz, Austria On May 28th and 29th for its 2nd General Assembly. The meeting was hosted by Ecotherm and held in the picturesque Schloss Muehldorf hotel.
The two-day meeting allowed all partners to evaluate the progress and work done with each work package and see where the project stands after it’s first year. Highlights included the status of design and test of the HHP prototypes for the demo sites, the protocols for testing the adsorber materials, the final design and time table for deployment and execution of the technologies in the demo sites, and a review of the exploitation and communication activities to date.
The proximity to Ecotherm’s premises also allowed the consortium the opportunity to do a technical visit. The consortium had the opportunity to see first hand how they produce the water tanks and take a look at the solar panels installed in their rooftops, which include the Fresnex soalr collectors that will be deployed at HyCool’s demo sites.
The meeting ended having established clear goals for the next 6 months and looking forward to the work ahead.
The EU-funded HyCool project is demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility of solar thermal cooling production for the chemical and food industries in two pilot sites. By coupling modular Fresnel concentrated solar panels with thermal storage and hybrid cooling units, HyCool extends the range of applications not only to higher temperature processes, but also to cooling and refrigeration.
HyCool stimulates the market segment by addressing the technical feasibility and the issue of business models to stimulate investment towards wide-scale penetration of solar thermal for industrial processes.
Innovative and adaptive solutions can help alleviate high capital investment by industrial players, shifting risk to actors such as ESCos whose core business is to finance, plan, install, and operate renewable energy systems. As one example, in the sunny countries of Spain, Portugal, and Italy, there are approximately 18,500 steam boiler systems in operation – each a potential market opportunity for HyCool to advance the state of the arts in solar thermal for industrial applications. By demonstrating the technical feasibility and validating business model assumptions with relevant stakeholders, this market segment can be propelled.
By Valeria Palomba, Andrea Frazzica, Steffen Kühnert, André Große
Istituto di Tecnologie Avanzate per l’Energia CNR-ITAE, Messina (Italy) Fahrenheit GmbH, Halle (Germany)
Last September our colleagues Valeria Palomba, Andrea Frazzica, Steffen Kühnert and André Große presented the following paper on Hycool at the Eurosun conference held in Rapperswill:
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the dynamic modelling of a hybrid cascade chiller for solar cooling in industrial applications driven by Fresnel solar thermal collectors. The chiller comprises an adsorption module, which is directly connected to the bottoming vapor compression chiller. This cascade configuration allows enhancing the overall electric COP, since the adsorption module is operated to dissipate the heat rejected by the vapor compression chiller, thus reducing the condensation temperature quite below the ambient temperature. The model was implemented in Dymola/Modelica, allowing describing heat and mass transfer phenomena inside each component. The complete model was then validated against experimental data obtained on a cascade chiller prototype at the CNR ITAE lab. Finally, a reference daily simulation was performed to evaluate the ability of the developed chiller in providing cooling energy to a typical industrial application
Keywords: Dymola/Modelica, cascade chiller, industrial solar cooling
1. Introduction
The cooling demand is continuously growing worldwide in different sectors (Werner, 2016). Particularly, energy consumption and related emissions due to cooling processes in industrial sector are becoming a major issue. For this reason, the integration of renewable thermal energy sources inside industrial sites, for both heating and cooling applications is gaining a lot of attention (Farjana et al., 2018). Usually, it is accomplished with the use of thermally driven sorption machine, driven by thermal energy produced by non-concentrating solar thermal collectors (e.g. flat plate, evacuated tubes) (Murray et al., 2016). Nevertheless, this approach suffers of some weaknesses: first, when renewable source (i.e. solar energy) is not available, a backup system is needed to either operate the sorption chiller (e.g. gas boiler) or to directly produce cooling by means of standard technology (e.g. vapour compression chiller). Secondly, the use of non-concentrating solar thermal collectors technologies often is not sufficient to properly drive the sorption machine, thus making it work under off-design conditions for several hours. Furthermore, these solar thermal collectors cannot be integrated as heating source in most of the industrial sites, since the achievable temperature level is usually not sufficient drive any process.
In such a background, the EU co-funded project HyCool (HyCool, 2018) aims at increasing the use of solar heat in industrial processes, integrating a concentrating Fresnel solar thermal collector technology, with a hybrid cascade chiller, to increase the share of renewable sources for heating and cooling applications in industries.
The present paper deals with the development of a numerical model, implemented in Dymola/Modelica, for the simulation of the innovative cascade chiller. The model describe heat and mass transfer phenomena in each component of the chiller, in order to accurately simulate its operation. Furthermore, it has been validated by means of experimental data measured at the CNR ITAE lab and it will be further used to evaluate optimal operating conditions and management strategies under typical working boundaries of an industrial plant.
2. The Hybrid cascade chiller
The hybrid heat pump is made up of two units, working in cascade mode: a thermal unit and an electric unit. The thermal unit is an adsorption chiller, based on the system already commercialised by Fahrenheit, which will be driven by the heat produced by a field of Fresnel solar thermal collectors, for the production of chilled water in the range of 16-22°C. This unit is hydraulically connected to the condenser of an electric vapour compression unit (i.e. cascading mode), which will provide chilled water to the user. In such a way, the adsorption unit is primarily meant for dissipating the condensation heat of the vapour compression unit. This operation allows increasing the overall electric COP, by reducing the temperature lift between evaporator and condenser of the vapour compression unit, thus limiting the compressor work.
Furthermore, the utilization of the cascading operation of the two units allows exploiting the benefits of the two types of systems, i.e. the low primary energy consumption of the thermal unit, which will be fed by renewable solar energy, and the fast response and good temperature control under different conditions of the electric unit (Vasta et al., 2018). A schematic of the hybrid heat pump operation and components as well as the different temperature levels is reported in Figure 1.
3. Dynamic modeling and validation
As shown in Figure 1, the hybrid heat pump is realized by hydraulically connecting the thermal and electric units. Consequently, the models for the two units were implemented and tested separately and then the overall model for the system was assembled and calibrated. […]
The HYCOOL consortium successfully held the 1st General Assembly on 22 and 23 November 2018, in Messina, Italy. The meeting was kindly and efficiently organized by CNR – ITAE.
As a presentation, Andrea Frazzica from CNR – ITAE opened the General Assembly meeting on the 22nd with a brief introduction about the institution’s activities and the city of Messina, and right after Ferran Abad from Veolia presented a note on the general project status in relation to the designs of the pilots and the specification of the technical solution.
After the presentation, during the first day, all partners got an overview of the HYCOOL project and its different work packages and had several meetings to clarify some technical points and also some issues related to the management of the project, closing the long day with a truly pleasant social dinner organized by the partners of CNR-ITAE.
During the second day, partners were able to review the project’s dissemination and communication activities and also attended a presentation on the Open Access principles, very useful for future project publications.
Silvia Jane and Ferran Abad from Veolia closed the meeting by reviewing all tasks, responsibilities and deadlines and summarizing the most important issues raised during the meeting.
Why do you think Hycool is a necessary European project in the current context?
DM (INEA): It is crucial that EU academic, research and industrial sectors join forces with the aim of demonstrating that solar heat can be a reliable energy source for industrial processes, therefore bringing significant prospects for the market uptake of this renewable energy source and for the decarbonisation of industrial processes.
What were your impressions at the kickoff meeting?
DM (INEA): I was impressed by the individual capacities brought up to the consortium by each member, but also aware of the big technical, administrative and management challenges to be faced by the project during its lifetime due to several aspects such as the large size of the consortium or the relatively short duration (36 months) for a project of this type. The consortium will receive 5.8M€ of EU taxpayer’s money that this is a big responsibility for the project to get timely results.
What is the interest of the project having a consortium with a mix of small and large companies?
DM (INEA): One of the main objectives of Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme is to bridge the gap between science, research and innovation communities and society at large by fostering more inclusive, anticipatory, open and responsive research and innovation systems. In other words, bring solutions to the challenges faced by society from research to market. In this frame, it is very interesting to have an adequate mix of small and large companies in order to ensure the SMEs are ready to scale up their technology once it is validated in the project but also that significant industrial investment effort is ensured during the project and after its completion by the different large companies in the consortium.
What achievements do you expect from Hycool, and what impact do you think they could have on both industry and the environment?
DM (INEA): From INEA we expect the project to fulfill the obligations set out in the Grant Agreement signed between both parts. In particular, the main achievements should be to improve industrial integration of current solar heating systems, to achieve a cost effective solution, and finally to demonstrate that solar heat can be a reliable energy source for key industries in terms of thermal energy consumption (chemical and food).
In the long term, the main impact of Hycool should be the contribution to the decarbonisation of industrial processes in view of the global environmental challenges faced by our society.
How do you think Hycool technology will benefit industries of its two particular demo cases?
DM (INEA): If successful, Hycool will result in significant savings in their cooling processes for both primary energy and fossil fuel utilization, with the corresponding economic impact this will entail. In addition, both companies could also benefit from a positive impact on the public perception of their activities, which will help improving their core business.
How do you see the replication of the Hycool project results to other industrial sites?
DM (INEA): I see the replication in different industrial sites as the next necessary step after the project lifetime. I think the strong interest and capacities brought up by the partners involved in the project and the one gained during the 36 months duration will ensure the replication of the Hycool solution, therefore bringing significant economic and environmental impacts to other industrial sites.
Last June Fresnex presented the HyCool project at the CIES 2018 in Madrid (XVI Congreso Ibérico y XII Congreso Iberoamericano de Energía Solar), the most important solar energy congress in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries. In this congress, the most interesting and novel projects related to all major solar technologies are presented and discussed, with the presence of the all relevant stakeholders from the sector.
Fresnex is an Austrian manufacturer of solar concentrating technology based on an innovative approach using flat solar mirror modules to concentrate the sun on a receiver. The Fresnel based concept to provide concentrated solar heat (CSH) is a major pillar of the HyCool hybrid solar heating and cooling project. It was developed specifically for process heat in the industry, is ideal for rooftop applications and aims to drastically reduce the costs of solar heat thanks to its patented technology. The company was invited to present its latest developments and upcoming projects in Spain. During the speech, Fresnex briefly described the HyCool project and the corresponding implementation in two industrial demonstration sites in the area of Barcelona.
Fresnex is playing an important role in the introduction of effective CSH projects in industrial applications in the European market. Each installation reduces substantially the consumption of fuel fossils for thermal applications in the industry, generating both a positive impact in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and real savings in the industry’s yearly fuel bills. Both HyCool demonstrators will prove for the first time in Spain the real potential of CSH in the industry. They will mainly generate solar steam, solar hot water as well as solar cooling in combination with novel phase change storage technologies.
Ozempic aj Mounjaro sú schválené americkým Úradom pre kontrolu potravín a liečiv na liečbu cukrovky 2. typu, ale niektorí lekári ich predpisujú “off-label” na chudnutie. Wegovy https://lekarenjedna.com/erektilnej-dysfunkcie/super-kamagra/ je schválený FDA na chudnutie pre ľudí s obezitou alebo s nadváhou.
HyCool project was presented during the Sorption Friends Workshop held in Pisa (16-18 July). Dr. Uli Jakob took the chance to present the HyCool project during the “Flashlight” session with about 65 participants from all over the world (Europe, Canada, USA, Russia, India, Japan), including members from CNR and Fahrenheit – which are also part of the HyCool consortium.
Market perspectives, segments, requirements, competing technologies and means were discussed and summarized in various working groups looking among other things into cooling applications (residential sector with single, multi-family houses and districts as well as light commercial buildings) and industrial cooling applications.
The results of the Sorption Friends Meeting, and all the information coming from the workshop are important for the future HyCool market analysis and the market integration of the developed systems.
The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) which was created by the European Commission in 2006 to manage the technical and financial implementation of Smart, green and integrated transport + Secure, clean and efficient energy programmes, invited the HyCool coordinator to the 2nd clustering meeting on Horizon 2020 projects in the area of Concentrated Solar Power. The meeting was held on June 26th 2018 in the INEA premises (Brussels).
The projects reported on their current results and will explore possibilities for collaboration and synergies, including the organisation events or workshops. In this sense, Hycool project manager presented the project and the main objectives with the aim to update the European Commission officials and to discuss the advancements in the sector; the progress achieved so far will be shown after the first year of the ongoing project.
After this, a discussion on potential synergies/overlaps & opportunities with the objective to develop ideas for further joint activities, identified from the project presentations, took place, as well as a discussion in the working groups with mixed representatives of different types of projects.
The different groups will work together in the next 18 months with the action points defined during the meeting where Hycool identified two projects with synergies & opportunities: the Ship2Fair and Inship projects.
HyCool project was invited to participate in Sustainable Places 2018, an annual international conference who gathers stakeholders from leading organizations around the world to advance the state of art and play in one of the greatest challenges that our societies and their urban planners have ever faced: The need to enhance the sustainability of places ensuring long-term environmental security.
The event was held from 27th to 29th of June, and the local co-hosts for this 6th iteration of the congress were INES (The French National Solar Energy Institute of France) and University Savoie Mont Blanc (Chambery campus). The general SP2018 program structure included atwo-day symposium, comprising several keynote speakers, clustering workshops, and presentation sessions.
Even the event was just about one month before HyCool’s KoM, so we could just provide general information about the project, it was a great opportunity to start with the project’s dissemination, contributing with a poster.
The 1st HyCool General Assembly was held on May 17th and 18th in the HOTEL FIRA CONGRESS (Barcelona). Ferran Abad from Veolia Serveis Catalunya, as a Coordinator, opened the meeting at 9:00 following with the presentation of partner’s institutions, the main working interests detailing the interest in HYCOOL and the related activities and the expectations concerning project actions and outcomes.
It was a pleasure to have the participation of Daniel Maraver as a Project Officer from INEA, who explained the administrative issues to the Consortium and helped to better understand the aspects related to the European Commission programmes, the INEA and Horizon2020 and the implication and roles concerning the grant agreement and the expectations on the works to be carried on.
Following this, Silvia Jane as a Project Manager from the Coordinator entity presented the project overview and structure, understanding the general objectives of the project including the submitted proposal mission, the general objectives and specific technical objectives, the key equipment, the risk monitoring and measures and some other general issues. Each leader of the work packages presented the major objectives and deliverables, what the WP expects from the partners, the immediate objectives (6-month plan) and the potential risks detected.
During the meeting of the two days of work, several topics were discussed for the start of the project, but the best opportunity was to meet the partners personally and be able to discuss all the concerns and peculiarities of the project. There was also time to get to know the city and converse in an environment outside of work.
Thank you all for the participation and collaboration during these two days. It has been a good start of the project that will continue during the three years of the young HyCool project.
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