Periodic Reporting for period 1 - herc accelerating industrial co2 neutrality (Reducing natural gas needs and carbon emissions in industrial usage and transforming industry towards hydrogen with HERC, a novel plasma-assisted combustion (PAC) technology)
Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-01-31
However, striving for optimal combustion efficiency presents its own set of hurdles. Thermochemical constraints cap efficiencies at 98.5%, and pushing these limits might inadvertently increase emissions. Currently, there's a lack of effective solutions to address this dilemma. Since CO2 emissions are a direct outcome of a chemical process, significant reductions can't be achieved without pioneering new technologies.
High Energy Ray Ceramic (HERC) technology is a patented novel method that uses self-powered vacuum nanoelectronic chips to generate low-temperature plasma from waste heat from chemical reactions and other heat sources.
HERC chips are embedded in the high-temperature combustion chamber, interacting with the flame to release the power of plasma-assisted combustion. This ground-breaking method efficiently turns waste heat into usable energy. In 2022, the HERC prototype achieved an 18% increase in combustion efficiency during industrial validation, possibly revolutionizing the whole combustion sector. Increasing fuel combustion efficiency reduces greenhouse gas emissions and aids in the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors. The overall objective of the project is to reach the first industrial installation of HERC chips.
We have set up a calorimetric testing capability. This is intended for further HERC effect exploration and will be used for parametrization and modeling of the combustion process in a controlled and measured environment. We have also set up laboratory parametric test capability (cube). This is used for product design parametrization, material selection, and behavior testing, allowing efficient validation of product configuration versions. We are soon completing industrial heating pilot application requirements and design as a preliminary step before initiating the pilot itself.