VULKANO
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Role of CIRCE
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Description and objectives
Energy-intensive industries are constantly facing new challenges to increase the efficiency, reliability and flexibility of their processes.
In particular, since processes involving industrial furnaces are those that stand out for their high energy consumption, they have been the focus of numerous investigations.
It is in this context that the VULKANO project arises, which will contribute not only to updating the aging furnaces of European industry but also to creating a way forward in the design of new furnaces.
The solutions developed will be implemented in two real installations, one in the ceramics sector (in Spain) and the other in the steel sector (Slovenia), as well as validating the feasibility of replicating these solutions in a third sector, the aluminum sector (in Turkey).
Value proposition
VULKANO's overall objective is to design, implement and validate innovative solutions and their joint integration to boost and increase the energy and environmental efficiency of natural gas-fired industrial furnaces and adjacent processes.
This will be made possible through the development and integration of new solutions based on phase change materials (PCM), new refractories, optimized co-firing, advanced monitoring and control systems and a holistic predictive tool. Specific objectives include:
- Increased overall process efficiency in the two main furnace types by 20%.
- At least 27% direct fuel savings, with a direct effect on pollutant emissions.
- A 15-40% reduction in natural gas fuel consumption by substituting it with alternative fuels.
- Development of an optimization methodology applicable to preheating and melting furnaces.
- Establishment of the basis for the market integration of the VULANO tool through a marketing plan aimed at business development.
Project partners
CIRCE, BOSIO, FIVES, RINA, PCM, VALJI, TECNALIA, TORRECID, INSTYTUT ENERGETYKI, FRAUNHOFER IMW, ASAS, CIDAUT