Thermal energy from cooling water
1. Description of the Challenge
VDL ETG Almelo realizes system integrations of mechatronic (sub)systems and modules for OEMs of high-tech capital goods. As a system supplier, our value chain covers everything from (co-)design to parts production, assembly and quality control. In-house facilities include machining, high-speed milling, precision grinding, sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, mechanical and electrical (clean room) assembly, testing, product certification and on-site installation.
4 years ago, the municipality of Almelo started a project to use cooling water from company X in the area as an energy source. In the processes of company X, 10 MW of residual thermal heat is continuously released into the water, which has a temperature of approximately 36 °C. The cooling water flows are currently cooled by decentralized adiabatic cooling towers to 27 °C. On an annual basis, the cooling towers cool away approximately 400 GJ of heat.
The municipality intended to use this for surrounding businesses and possibly for residential areas. Although it was a good initiative, this idea failed. Now, a few years later, a number of Almelo companies, including VDL ETG Almelo, are picking up again. There is a declaration of intent to implement this idea and to use the thermal energy in the cooling water on the site of VDL ETG Almelo. For VDL ETG Almelo, this is a major part of getting rid of gas within the organization.
2. Expected Outcome
We at VDL would like to reduce our footprint. This case represents a small but important step in this process. If you also enjoy working on sustainability, then this case is for you!
For VDL ETG Almelo there are now two major issues in this project:
- What is the heat balance in our factory? How much energy is used where, where is gas currently required?
- How can we convert the thermal energy of the cooling water so that we can use it instead of where we currently use gas?
The first question is to analyze the users in the factory and how much is used where. Mainly aimed at gas consumers. This heat balance must then show how much energy we need from the cooling water if we want to become completely gas-neutral. VDL is currently busy producing or purchasing the required electrical energy sustainably. However, reducing gas consumption comes with greater technical challenges. In our case using the residual heat from the cooling water from the environment. This will be the subject of the second part of the case. Are there existing solutions for this energy conversion? Are our devices and machines suitable or do they need to undergo a transition.