Project

Innovative and efficient solution, based on modular, versatile, smart process units for energy and resource flexibility in highly energy intensive processes

Acronym
CIRMET
Code
41Q06718
Duration
01 October 2018 → 31 December 2022
Funding
European funding: framework programme
Research disciplines
  • Engineering and technology
    • Metals recycling and valorisation
Keywords
efficient solution energy intensive processes
 
Project description

The project aims to design, develop and validate an innovative solution, the CIRMET solution, to provide energy and resource flexibility to Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) The CIRMET solution will be validated in an operational environment (TRL7) in an existing process plant (nonferrous sector) while the replicability of the solution will be assessed in three additional energy intensive sectors (steel, cement and water sector). For this purpose, three new demonstrators will be build up, plus the retrofitting of existing industry process unit. The new demonstrators or modules will be: EFFIMELT furnace, a new concept of flexible and modular process unit for industrial wastes treatment, RECUWASTE heat recovery unit, for flue gas heat recovery and transformation into compressed air to re-used in the same plant, having also the possibility of storing the excess energy and AFF40 (Analytic For Factory 4.0) platform, to improve process plant competitiveness, to increase energy and resource efficiency by controlling and optimizing process units. The retrofitting of an existing process unit (Metallo S.L process furnace) will be done to implement and validate the complete CIRMET solution. A well-balanced consortium formed by academia, research organization, SMEs and energy intensive industries ensures the whole value chain needed to achieve project objectives and paves the way for future exploitation of the solution. The effective dissemination of project outcomes to the current and next generation of citizen and employees through the development of learning resources with flexible usage to be carried out by education/training experts within the consortium is eventually also an important objective of the consortium.

 
Role of Ghent University
UGENT will translate the results of this project in a highly modular set of short online training modules. By using insights from online pedagogy and instructional design, each module will be developed as a self-contained microlearning block, that engages the learner and brings one idea (or project result) across. Universities that want to offer a course on these topics, can use this structured set of modules (or parts thereof) as the basis for a blended learning course. A group of basic modules will be foreseen that offers the minimally required background for people entering from different fields. All modules will be developed in a low-budget way and will be offered on a platform where they can live with minimal maintenance. In this way, they can serve long beyond the duration of this project.