Summary Of The Technology
Our grain dryer has greater throughput compared to conventional dryers and at the same time, thanks to the use of our heat recuperation technology, consumes over 90% less fuel per unit of a dried product than conventional dryers. Accordingly, the new dryer generates significantly less greenhouse gases.
Current Status
Now we have the working prototype of our installation. We have several potential clients in Europe, which are ready to use our technology in their plants.
Problem or Opportunity
A new method for highly efficient recuperation of thermal energy
The method is based on using thermodynamics principles and is applicable to various technologies comprising heating for liquid evaporation and characterized by high energy consumption. It allows a dramatic recuperation of over 90% of the energy spent by the current state-of-the-art technologies. The project objective is to reduce expenses for heating by order of magnitude. Its mission is also similar significant reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions.
Specific Projects
This method will serve as an umbrella for three applications, each of them possesses specific economic and environmental significance due to their huge market sizes. Although methodologically these projects look similar, each one requires specific technical solutions and has its own market and relates to different industries. Therefore, all three of them should be considered as independent projects.
Project 1
Grain Driers
Our grain dryer has greater throughput compared to conventional dryers and at the same time, thanks to the use of our heat recuperation technology, consumes over 90% less fuel per unit of a dried product than conventional dryers. Accordingly, the new dryer generates significantly less greenhouse gases.
For example, a conventional dryer requires approximately 20 cubic meters of natural gas to dry 1 MT of grain. Due to the efficient thermal energy recuperation the hot air carrying the water vapor is exposed to a special thermodynamic cycle resulting in its temperature growth and is returned to the beginning of the process for drying the next grain portion. This dryer consumes 1.2 cubic meters of gas per 1 MT of grain ONLY. Accordingly, a conventional dryer emits 31 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere per 1 MT of grain while our dryer emits 1.4 kg of CO2 per 1 MT ton of grain ONLY. It means that gas consumption is reduced by ~95%.
To estimate the economic consequences of the new technology, let us consider how much gas, energy, and money savings can bring using this technology if applied to the drying only wheat only by Germany. Germany produces about 21 million tons of wheat annually.
With the present gas price ~USD 310 per 1,000 cubic meters it saves ~USD 122 million countrywide, annually.
The reduction in the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere will be 621,000 tons per year. It also has some a monetary value. To estimate we have selected typical cost normally used in U.S.A. (USD 19/MT although in UK it is £50/MT). It gives ~USD 7.5 million. The monetary
equivalent of CO2 emissions involves assigning a price to carbon emissions to account for the environmental damage they cause. It reveals the social and environmental effects contributed by the new technology.
The worldwide wheat production is over 800 million MT which indicates the huge potential market size for the technology while corn, soybeans, and other grains multiple this figure.
The profitability of this business is almost obvious due to enormous cost reduction and extremely short investment return period (normally about one year). It will make purchasing the new equipment and technology attractive for potential customers.
Solution (product or service)
A new method for highly efficient recuperation of thermal energy
The method is based on using thermodynamics principles and is applicable to various technologies comprising heating for liquid evaporation and characterized by high energy consumption. It allows a dramatic recuperation of over 90% of the energy spent by the current state-of-the-art technologies. The project objective is to reduce expenses for heating by order of magnitude. Its mission is also similar significant reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions.
Specific Projects
This method will serve as an umbrella for three applications, each of them possesses specific economic and environmental significance due to their huge market sizes. Although methodologically these projects look similar, each one requires specific technical solutions and has its own market and relates to different industries. Therefore, all three of them should be considered as independent projects.
Project 1
Grain Driers
Our grain dryer has greater throughput compared to conventional dryers and at the same time, thanks to the use of our heat recuperation technology, consumes over 90% less fuel per unit of a dried product than conventional dryers. Accordingly, the new dryer generates significantly less greenhouse gases.
For example, a conventional dryer requires approximately 20 cubic meters of natural gas to dry 1 MT of grain. Due to the efficient thermal energy recuperation the hot air carrying the water vapor is exposed to a special thermodynamic cycle resulting in its temperature growth and is returned to the beginning of the process for drying the next grain portion. This dryer consumes 1.2 cubic meters of gas per 1 MT of grain ONLY. Accordingly, a conventional dryer emits 31 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere per 1 MT of grain while our dryer emits 1.4 kg of CO2 per 1 MT ton of grain ONLY. It means that gas consumption is reduced by ~95%.
To estimate the economic consequences of the new technology, let us consider how much gas, energy, and money savings can bring using this technology if applied to the drying only wheat only by Germany. Germany produces about 21 million tons of wheat annually.
With the present gas price ~USD 310 per 1,000 cubic meters it saves ~USD 122 million countrywide, annually.
The reduction in the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere will be 621,000 tons per year. It also has some a monetary value. To estimate we have selected typical cost normally used in U.S.A. (USD 19/MT although in UK it is £50/MT). It gives ~USD 7.5 million. The monetary
equivalent of CO2 emissions involves assigning a price to carbon emissions to account for the environmental damage they cause. It reveals the social and environmental effects contributed by the new technology.
The worldwide wheat production is over 800 million MT which indicates the huge potential market size for the technology while corn, soybeans, and other grains multiple this figure.
The profitability of this business is almost obvious due to enormous cost reduction and extremely short investment return period (normally about one year). It will make purchasing the new equipment and technology attractive for potential customers.
Competitors
none
Advantages or differentiators
The method is based on using thermodynamics principles and is applicable to various technologies comprising heating for liquid evaporation and characterized by high energy consumption. It allows a dramatic recuperation of over 90% of the energy spent by the current state-of-the-art technologies. The project objective is to reduce expenses for heating by order of magnitude. Its mission is also similar significant reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions.
