DRALOD PROJECT MEETING AT RISE

On the 24 and 25^th of April, DRALOD Consortium has met in Gothenburg, at the RISE´s offices for Energy and Circular Economy research. A nice sunny weather accompanied us during this meeting, devoted to review the technical progress achieved over the near 9 months of project execution, and to start planning to mid-term reporting period. We also had the opportunity to visit RISE´s labs Borås, at a 50 min ride on electric car from Gothenburg. In Borås, RISE´s division for Built Environment research has several unique test beds, labs and demonstration facilities, to deliver demo and testing services on issues as efficiency, quality, sound environment, security, durability, environmental adaptation.

In DRALOD project, RISE is responsible for the development of a Heat Recovery Unit (HRU) for the drying plant, facing important challenges related to a low temperature drying process as well as to daily and seasonal variabilities in the dryer´s foreseen exhaust air conditions, linked to solar energy availability.

RISE will design the HRU system and deliver a research scale prototype to be installed in the DRALOD pilot plant in Spain. Based on RISE´s extensive experience in the development of energy recovery systems, a design methodology integrating cost-benefit analysis is used in order to prioritise more cost-effective solutions. The HRU prototype will run on a partial volume of the exhaust air flow from the dryer to test its performance under real working conditions, in relation to aspects such as how deposits from the exhaust drying air on the surface of the HRU may affect operation and to determine requirements of clearance and maintenance for an optimum performance.

The next project meeting will take place in September in Leipzig (Germany). We will keep you posted.