Objective
Objectives
The objective of the project is to develop new design methods, supported by software, for combined energy and water management. The purpose is to minimise energy consumption, fresh water use, wastewater generation whilst minimising the cost of disposal of any waste generated. Both continuous and batch/semicontinuous processes are addressed. This novel concept for combined minimisation of energy and water consumption will also be extended for use in the Pulp and Paper Industry. Where the objective is to decrease energy consumption by a minimum of 20%.
The semicontinuous and batch processes targeted for the food and drink industries also offer the potential for significant reductions of about 40% in water and 60% in energy consumption.
Technical Approach
Pinch analysis is well established for studying heat recovery in the process industries. This method has now been extended to the problem of water and wastewater minimisation. Water use can be minimised by re-use, or by regeneration, followed by either re-use or recycling. The methodology first sets concentration limits for contaminants for each water-using operation. Knowing the flow rate of water to each operation allows a concentration composite curve to be plotted. Matching a water supply line against the concentration composite curve allows the target for maximum water re-use to be set. Design methods allow the targets for minimum water use to be set. Many uses of water in the process industries require the water to be heated. Water re-use enables direct heat recovery. This requires simultaneous consideration of both the level of contamination and temperature. The recovery of heat can be direct by re-use or indirect using heat exchangers. To analyse this problem the two methodologies for energy and water minimisation must be merged into a new one.
Expected Achievements and Exploitation
New methods for combined minimisation of energy and water consumption based on this novel concept will be available for use in industry. Energy will be saved and possible surplus energy used to reduce the use of fresh water by purifying and recycling process wastewaters. Up to 100% recycling is a real possibility.
The Pulp and Paper Plant of the future will require full wastewater recirculation. In order to achieve this, the energy consumption of the plant may increase. Consequently, economic viability will depend upon major energy efficiency improvements. Semicontinuous and batch processes (e.g. speciality chemicals, brewing and food processing) are characterised by a variety of reaction steps, solvents, or separation methods for the recovery and purification of the products. As a result, a variety of aqueous effluents are created. Any systematic effort must therefore be concentrated on a realistic water management scheme based on economic appraisal of different options, and a processing optimisation scheme guided by minimum pollution. The food and drink industry offers great potential for exploitation of the technology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technology environmental engineering ecosystem-based management climatic change mitigation
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- engineering and technology environmental engineering natural resources management water management
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
M60 1QD Manchester
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.