Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DUSTCOMB (A Novel Technology to Reduce Industrial Dust Pollution and to Enable Most Efficient Energy Recovery)
Reporting period: 2019-04-01 to 2020-03-31
Currently, the Dustcomb technology has reached the final development, validation and market introduction phase. We expect to complete the first integration projects in Q4/2020 as opposed to planned Q4/2019.
The SME2 project objectives are based on feasibility study that was performed within our SME phase-1 project. We have now validated the most viable go-to-market strategy, secured all necessary resources required for timely and successful project implementation and set specific objectives for the following SMEI phase-2 project:
1. Developing our current prototype technology to market ready Dustcomb solution
- Completing the system development (automation, User-Interface (UI), materials)
- Designing a Dustcomb tower unit for larger applications
2. Validating the Dustcomb performance and our technical concepts in real environment pilot
- Creating standardised manufacturing and integration concepts
- Setting up and testing value chains for scaling manufacturing, installing and maintenance
- Installing and piloting the Dustcomb solution in a steel plant
3. Preparing for fast market uptake and global commercialisation
- Forming partnerships for global representations and aftersales services
- Commercialisation and dissemination activities for targeted audiences in EU and Asia
WP1 concentrated on technology development. The work lasted longer than planned, because the technology development turned out to be more difficult than originally scheduled. However, we have achieved desired results.
Work Package 2
The concept WP was completed as planned and as a result we have a manufacturing, an integration and a service concept for the Dustcomb tower module.
Work Package 3
Piloting took longer time to plan and set-up than we thought, which was due to a lockdown. Therefore, the piloting was shorter than originally planned and it was also cut short due to the global pandemic. However, the results we have so far a very promising and tests show that our technology is five times more efficient than a standard bag filter.
Work Package 4
Commercialisation activities will be our main focus for the second half of 2020, when we have the final results of our piloting. During the H2020 project, we did manage to combine an extensive list of potential customers and we also have first inquiries from different plants in Asia and Europe.
Manufacturing industry is one of the biggest air polluters, which is why the sector needs to tackle the issue by more effective and accessible industrial dust extraction solutions. Priority applications are coking plants in steel factories, blast furnaces and steel smelter plants. However, the largest industrial potential for the equipment is in fossil fuel power plants.
Small-scale versions of the equipment are also suitable for cleaning household air by replacing the ventilation unit’s fan with a small DustComb module. This version can achieve HEPA –level filtering by removing all particulates with size greater than or equal to 2.5 µm. The unit can also make domestic wood burning stoves compliant with the new EU ambient air quality directive.