Technical Visit at ELBI in Italy
Last month, as part of the StreamSTEP project, a technical visit took place at ELBI’s premises in Italy. This meeting brought together our partners from Brunel, SINTEF, and FOS to focus on key objectives, including optimizing waste heat recovery and integrating Advanced Heat Pump Systems (AHPS) within ELBI’s production as a demonstrator in the plastic sector.
Key Discussions and Findings
The day began with a dedicated meeting between FOS and ELBI, where the main objective was to discuss in detail the project’s goals and implementation methods. This session started with an initial thermal survey scenario, aimed at supporting the design of StreamSTEP systems.
One of the primary objectives at this stage is to evaluate the current AS-IS situation using FLIR manual thermal cameras. This assessment will help identify the optimal placement of COTS thermal cameras, ensuring continuous monitoring and site analysis.
A comprehensive thermal assessment of the plant will play a crucial role in enhancing energy efficiency. By continuously monitoring heat dissipation patterns, ELBI and the project team will gain valuable insights into StreamSTEP technology’s performance, leading to more effective energy management strategies.
Following this session, all partners participated in a broader discussion on ELBI’s logistical and production characteristics. The team analyzed detailed layouts of its plastic and steel manufacturing processes, identifying key factors influencing energy consumption and waste heat management.
A critical point of discussion was ELBI’s smoke analyses, conducted on four selected chimneys. These analyses provide essential data for optimizing heat recovery solutions and integrating AHPS technology effectively.
Looking Ahead
The visit marked another significant step forward in the STreamSTEP project’s mission to advance sustainable energy solutions in the plastic sector. The insights gained from thermal assessments and plant layouts will be instrumental in shaping the next phases of implementation.
We extend our gratitude to ELBI for hosting this visit and to our partners from Brunel, SINTEF, and FOS for their valuable contributions.
