Solar Heat Integration in Rotational Molding Process: Case Study

Renewable Thermal Energy Systems: Characterization of the Most Important Thermal Energy Applications in Buildings and Industry (Report 1)

“…Prior NREL analysis for the brewery found that dependent on costs of the solar field integration and the assumed income tax utilized, a positive net present value could be attained, indicating a viable project (Kurup and Turchi 2020). The Moroccan Solar Research Institute (IRESEN) was heavily investigating the use of solar thermal systems and then subsequently coupled with TES to form hybrid RTES solutions for the supply of renewable heat to key industries like automotive, plastics, and food processing (Laadel et al 2018;. This is an important area for industries in Morocco due to Morocco's high reliance on foreign imported fuels such as oil and natural gas-97% of fuel needs are imported (World Bank 2017), and energy generation costs are high (Laadel et al 2018).…”

“…The plastic rotational molding facility currently uses costly natural gas to provide heated air to the molds and furnace. The plant is estimated to run 24 hours per day, 365 days per year (Laadel et al 2018). The gas burner provides air at 300°C, and the hourly thermal load is approximately 0.3 MWth (Laadel et al 2018).…”

“…The plant is estimated to run 24 hours per day, 365 days per year (Laadel et al 2018). The gas burner provides air at 300°C, and the hourly thermal load is approximately 0.3 MWth (Laadel et al 2018). The simulations and modeling for the linear Fresnel solar field, undertaken with the software EBSILON, used a synthetic oil heat transfer fluid in the solar field connected to a heat exchanger, which would heat air before it was fed into the rotational molding furnace (Iqony 2023).…”

“…The estimated monthly thermal load profile of the facility (MWhth/month) is shown in Figure 8 (blue bars), and the estimated solar thermal yield (MWhth/month) is also shown (green bars). As shown in Figure 8, it is expected that the modeled solar IPH solution without a TES could, in the best solar resource months (e.g., June to September), meet greater than 20% of the facility's thermal demands (Laadel et al 2018). It is expected that the use of a hybrid RTES (i.e., CSP and TES) would increase the renewable heat fraction (e.g., above 26%), as in Figure 8 (Laadel et al 2018).…”

“…As shown in Figure 8, it is expected that the modeled solar IPH solution without a TES could, in the best solar resource months (e.g., June to September), meet greater than 20% of the facility's thermal demands (Laadel et al 2018). It is expected that the use of a hybrid RTES (i.e., CSP and TES) would increase the renewable heat fraction (e.g., above 26%), as in Figure 8 (Laadel et al 2018). It is worth mentioning that the authors of this paper are working closely with members of IRESEN to gain access to operational data to industrial plants in Morocco to allow for the development of hybrid RTES solutions.…”