The project aims to create a sustainable alternative to gas boilers for residential heating by integrating advanced energy storage and high-efficiency heat upgrade technologies. Central to this initiative is the design, control, and development of a high-temperature heat upgrade technology (operating above 70°C) combined with an electrical/thermal storage system. This integrated solution will enable demand-side management, reduce energy consumption, and support Europe’s decarbonization objectives.
A key innovation is the development of a digital twin to facilitate system upscaling, predict performance, and evaluate cost and CO₂ savings. Using TRNSYS as the simulation platform, the project will model long-term performance, providing insights into efficiency, economic viability, and environmental impact.
Impact: By replacing fossil-fuel-based heating with a scalable, future-ready solution, this project will significantly reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and accelerate the transition to sustainable living—contributing to EU climate and energy targets.
This research proposes the development of a sustainable, integrated system for the remediation and recycling of wastewater discharged from condenser economizers. The project addresses the critical challenge of managing "acidic load" and chemical pollutants inherently present in the industrial condensate generated during heat recovery processes within industrial heat exchangers. By integrating advanced water-recycling technologies directly into the heat-waste recovery cycle, the project aims to extract acidic pollutants at the source, removing microbial pollution, transforming a hazardous byproduct into a high-quality, reusable resource with an inline process solution.
This integrated solution will facilitate optimization of industrial energy consumption, and provide a scalable, future-ready methodology for closed-loop resource recovery system. The study will conduct a rigorous evaluation of long-term operational performance, providing essential insights into the chemical and microbial efficiency, economic viability, and environmental safety of the proposed system.
This project directly supports the Department’s Research Strategy by advancing sustainable energy systems, improving energy efficiency, and environment protection by bridging the gap between heat recovery and chemical environmental remediation. It advances the strategic goal of developing interdisciplinary solutions for resource shortage. It addresses the urgent need for sustainable industrial water recycling by developing a high-performance acidic extraction technology integrated with heat exchangers management system. This innovation aligns with strategic priorities for smart industrial systems and resource optimization, specifically within the context of European environmental protection and public health mandates. Furthermore, the project focus on process integration and predictive performance evaluation which will strengthen the department’s focus on industrial decarbonization and sustainable manufacturing, supporting system upscaling and industrial adoption. By delivering measurable reductions in chemical discharge and energy overhead, the project will be a part of the green transition, providing scalable solutions that align with national and EU sustainability objectives.
