Lesa Dairy, a Swiss company based in Bever, installed parabolic collectors (using thermo-oil as heat transfer fluid) with a thermal power of 67kW (yearly average renewable heat generation of 60MWh). The system generates steam at 4-6 bar which is then injected into the steam supply network of the plant (option A2b in the Figure below). The remaining heat demand for steam is met by steam generated from fossil fuel combustion. The renewable heat generated allows 5% of the annual heat demand of the factory to be met (SHIP, 2014).
Figure: Integration of solar heating into the industry at the process or supply level (Source: (Muster-Slawitsch et al., 2014)
- Muster-Slawitsch B., Weiss W, Schnitzer H., Brunner C. 2011. The green brewery concept - Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in breweries. Applied Thermal Engineering 31, pp. 2123-2134
- Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) database. Available at: www.ship-plants.info Accessed October 2014