The boilers available from the main EU producers are classified as firetube or watertube boilers. By comparing these two technologies, we conclude that they are used for different applications not competing with each other in any given characteristic (i.e. design, thermal capacity, pressure, temperature, efficiency, energy consumption, price, etc.) or market (small-to-medium capacity applications vs. large ones). In addition, combustion boilers include burners, which maintain ignition and combustion of fuel within the furnace. Burners used in boilers are generally divided in pre-mix burners and diffusive burners depending on where the mixing between air and fuel occurs. For our solution we have selected a pre-mix burner based on the inward flame novel design giving the boiler a large modulation range with an intake self-regulated system capable of mixing air/gas in the optimal ratio before blowing inside the burner. This permits extremely low values of polluting exhaust emissions, and two or more independent air/gas supplies firing in the same burner cylinder allowing optimization of energy end-use efficiency and reduction of maintenance time and costs.
Our ECOVAPOR technology offers our end-users the following advantages:
- Optimal energy end-use efficiency: our smart e-term® PCB control electronics will track steam consumption activity throughout all the process steps to further customize our boiler according to thermal energy needs of each customer being recipient of a reduction of installed power in their facilities between 16-62%.
- Very high efficiency in steam generation: ECOVAPOR technology advantageously enhances the steam generation process reaching ca. 94% - 96% efficiency thanks to the integration of the low-priced economizer in the boiler and modulation range.
- Large range of power modulation: 5-100%, thanks to a novel pre-mix burner of reverse flame that automatically regulates output power being adjusted to the particular steam demand at any time and part of the process of our customers. This will suppress the start-up/shut-down of the steam boiler and reduce the thermal stress, ensuring longevity and minimize of noise at the workplace.
- Sustainable thermal energy source: up to 70mg NOx/kWh emissions (ca. 40-50% less per kW than existing steam boilers available in the market with typical non- low NOx diffusive burners).
- Customers of ECOVAPOR will benefit from a steam boiler custom-designed on specific needs of their industry at a very competitive cost.
For the consortium, ECOVAPOR market launch will create about 25 to 40 new jobs and we plan to penetrate initially the EU F&B industry by 2018, and after other industries starting from 2019 (i.e. textile, tanning, chemical, and pharmaceutical) in EU and non-EU countries. Lastly, we plan to reach the US and Canada in 2020 where low NOx emissions are controlled and high imports are expected.
The ECOVAPOR market application will be on F&B industry first targeting these two key market applications: F&B processing and Clean-in-place (CIP) processes.