THE PROJECT
Based on the motto: “what gets measured gets managed”, we’ve made analyses that show that drying time can be reduced by up to 60 per cent. At the same time, the heating surface and cooling surface of the system can be adjusted to work together more efficiently. This way, a total energy saving of 76 per cent can be achieved.
Sun Chemical is enjoying an annual saving on its electricity and gas bill of just over DKK 400,000 and an annual carbon emission reduction of more than 300 tonnes.
By installing sensors on the system, the cooling and heating can be effectively regulated, and the process can now run automatically and stop when the colour granules are sufficiently dry. The process is no longer prolonged and more expensive than it needs to be because it has to allow for the worst-case scenario and an additional margin of error.
The small investment in analyses, sensors and programming of the system gives the project a payback period of just 8.5 months. And with the reduced time consumption, Sun Chemical can now increase its drying capacity by up to 57 per cent.
The new sensors have also shown that the steam valve that regulates the heating surface is defective and does not close tightly. Once repaired, Sun Chemical will enjoy an extra saving on gas for steam production.
