Simulation-as-a-Service Tool for Industrial Furnaces Innovative Engineering Design (SaaStified)

Project Information

SaaStified

Grant agreement ID: 742183

DOI

10.3030/742183

Project closed

EC signature date 19 November 2016

Start date 1 November 2016

End date 30 April 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

MOXOFF SPA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SaaStified (Simulation-as-a-Service Tool for Industrial Furnaces Innovative Engineering Design (SaaStified))

Reporting period: 2016-11-01 to 2017-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

In industrial furnaces, reactive mixtures, turbulent flows and thermal exchange are only few of the complex mechanisms ruling combustion and raw materials melting. In parallel, as huge masses of raw materials, energy and pollutant emission are involved, the environmental impact is critical: companies continuously look for high-tech solutions to control the process, as for example numerical simulations.
The SaaStified project objective is the development of a user-friendly simulation platform to support furnaces design and functioning optimization. The platform concept is an innovative simulation technology embedded in standard workflows, set up for non-expert users, to address the lack of efficient simulation tools and the competence barriers needed to perform simulations.
In this feasibility study (FS) we consider as reference market the glass container production industry to assess and close the gap between the concept and a detailed business plan. The progress outcome demonstrates a high potential business opportunity: the project shall continue. As conclusion of the action, a proposal was submitted to a SME Instrument Phase 2 call.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work performed consists in the following tasks: a proof of concept on the simulation technology applied to industrial cases; market analysis, to enhance the awareness of the target market size, customer segmentation, needs and potential benefits for users; definition of a detailed workplan breakdown and partners to cooperate with to implement the project, IPR and risk management, marketing and commercialization strategy; quantification of business impact, cost and revenue structures.
The results contributed to define an economically sustainable business plan. In parallel, during the FS Moxoff created a network of potential partners to cooperate with not only for this project but also for other business opportunities.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The proof of concept extended this brand new simulation technology from a demonstration to a system prototype, a decisive progress beyond the state of the art to impact on industries: melting process accounts for 75% of the total energy consumption of the production process, and a gain of 1-2% in energetic efficiency and reduction 20-30% pollutants emissions is expected to be reached thanks to furnaces optimization enabled by the tools set up and provided by Moxoff. This finally reflects to a “triple-win” impact: Moxoff business growth, costs saving for industries, and environment sustainability.

Thermo - CFD analysis on furnace streamlines in the combustion chamber