New approaches to recover low temperature residual energy

OVERVIEW

The purpose of this Challenge is to find new, innovative approaches to efficient and cost-effective recovery of low temperature residual energy that remains in the process streams after the primary process is complete.

The efficient recovery of waste heat generated by modern industrial process equipment has enormous potential at a wide range of sites globally. Part of this generated heat in the form of high temperature (>100°C) energy is used to produce electricity. However, at least half, and most likely even more, of this heat remains unused in the form of residual low temperature (40-60°C) heat energy.

Despite being low temperature, the total amount of residual energy can be >100 MWth for a single large industrial application, and a typical industrial site may have many applications. Water evaporation is commonly used to eject heat into the atmosphere through cooling towers.

Several technologies have been tried to recover this residual low temperature. Unfortunately, these technologies all turned out to be economically unsustainable for this purpose. As a result, low temperature heat energy is not currently utilized at scale. This results in the loss of potentially monetizable value.

The goal of this Challenge is to find new, innovative approaches to efficient and cost-effective recovery of residual low temperature (40-60°C) energy. The Challenge has three objectives:

1. To monetize the intrinsic value of the residual low temperature heat by transforming it into forms of energy that can be re-used both locally and after being exported.
2. To reduce GHG emissions.
3. To reduce water usage (or increase water recovery).

By taking part in this Prize Challenge, you are granting the Seeker a right to use your submitted information; however, the Seeker must determine award winners within 45 days from the start of evaluation, otherwise they lose this right.

This Prize Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted. There will be a guaranteed award pool of $20,000, with at least one award of $5,000 or more and no award being less than $2,500. Award distribution (or allocation) will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposals.

Solvers may:

• Submit ideas of their own.
• Submit third-party information that they have the right to use and further, the authority to convey to the Seeker this right with the right to use and develop derivative works.
• Submit information considered in the public domain without any limitations on use.

WIN Scouts are very much invited to participate, this being any Solver who can propose a potentially suitable partner (startup or expert) from your network. As a WIN Scout, by referring to a relevant partner you will be recognized with a share of a separate $500 recognition award if your referral meets certain minimum criteria of detail, relevance, and format. The input required is guided during the submission process for WIN Scouts below.

Wazoku welcomes WIN Scouts and referred partners to become active members of Wazoku Innovation Networks (WIN).

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on November 04th, 2024.

- Login and register your interest to start solving and scouting!

THE CHALLENGE

Background

The efficient recovery of waste heat generated by modern industrial process equipment has large potential economic value.

Part of this generated heat—in the form of high temperature (>100°C) energy—is used to produce electricity (see Figure 1 below). However, at least half, and most likely even more, of this heat remains unused in the process streams after the primary manufacturing processes are complete. To learn more about the problem, please see this: Waste Heat Recovery Basics | Department of Energy.

Figure 1. Technologies used to generate electricity from residual heat (From: Are you still wasting heat? Why not profit from it? | Darcy Partners)

Several technologies, such as simple heat exchangers and organic Rankine power cycles have been tried to recover this residual low temperature (40-60°C) heat energy; for more information about technologies currently used to extract the residual low energy temperature, see the attached Table 1 (the attachment can be accessed after login).

Unfortunately, these technologies all turned out to be economically unsustainable for this purpose. At best, they can only be used near the facility that has produced them, for example, for district heating.

Absent alternatives, the low temperature heat energy is released through cooling towers, which represents a loss of potential economic value and, worse, requires the utilization of water for evaporation.

The Challenge

The goal of this Challenge is to find new, innovative approaches to efficient and cost-effective recovery of residual low temperature (40-60°C) energy that remains in the process streams after the primary process is complete.

The Challenge has three objectives:

1. To monetize the intrinsic value of the residual low temperature heat by transforming it into forms of energy that can be re-used both locally and after being exported.
2. To reduce GHG emissions.
3. To reduce water usage (or increase water recovery).

We envision that already existing technologies—or technologies that could be adapted for this purpose with a minimum investment of time and resources—will be identified capable of extracting this energy in both highly efficient and cost-effective ways, at large scale.

In practical terms, the proposed technology should:

1. Utilize the full available duty (within reasonable second law of thermodynamics constraints) in the temperature range of 40-60°C.
2. Ensure the total return on investment being greater than 5%.
3. Be able to extract the residual low temperature energy at scale (>100 MWth).

Finally, we envision that the proposed technology will be of a “plug-and-play” style, i.e., won’t affect the upstream operations, so that that the heat recovery process won’t intervene with the operation of the industrial facility generating heat.  

Important! We’re open to suggestions of modification of existing technologies (including those listed in the attached Table 1, log in to access) but only if a dramatic improvement in performance could be achieved. Any submission describing an existing technology used in an existing way or only with a slight optimization will not be eligible to receive a prize.

Also, important! While our clear preference is for a technological solution to the problem, we’re willing to consider proposals suggesting a new business model allowing to achieve the objective of this Challenge.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

We’re open to any innovative approach for as long as the proposed technology meets the following Solution Requirements:

1. The proposed technology can recover the residual low temperature energy in a way that its monetized value exceeded the expense of its extraction.
2. The proposed technology should be able to extract the residual low temperature energy at scale (>100 MWth).
3. The proposed technology should be of the “plug-and-play” style, i.e., not to affect the upstream operations, so that that the heat recovery process won’t intervene with the operation of the industrial facility generating heat. 
4. The solution should not add significant water consumption. Ideally, the proposed solution will consume significantly less water than existing techniques and will recover water vapors.
5. For business model suggestions, the proposed solution should present proof of the potential customer demand and/or estimates of the expected market size.
6. Ideally, the proposed solution will be based on “off the shelf,” i.e., commercially available, technology. (In this case, the Solvers are expected to list example providers of the proposed technology.)

At the same time, we will not accept solutions that:

• Rely on early-stage academic studies, which will require years of development to be transformed into a viable industrial technology.
• Will increase the overall GHG emissions and/or water consumption of the industrial process.
• Involve human-in-the-loop (or “direct to consumer”) applications—such as being used to grow food or flowers, to create heated public pools, etc.—as a business model.

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4-7 are invited.

This Prize Challenge has the following features:

1. By taking part, you are granting the Seeker a right to use your submitted information; however, the Seeker must determine the award winners within 45 days from the start of evaluation, otherwise the Seeker loses this right. You will receive notification.

2. There will be a guaranteed award of $20,000, with at least one award being $5,000 or more and no award being less than $2,500.

3. The award distribution will be determined after theoretical evaluation of the proposals by the Seeker.

4. Solvers may:

• Submit ideas of their own.
• Submit third-party information that they have the right to use and further, the authority to convey to the Seeker this right with the right to use and develop derivative works.
• Submit information considered in the public domain without any limitations on use.

5. WIN Scouts are invited to participate, this being any Solver who can propose a potentially suitable partner (startup or expert) from your network. As a WIN Scout, by referring a relevant partner you will be recognized with a share of a separate $500 recognition award if your referral meets certain minimum criteria of detail, relevance, and format. The input required is guided during the submission process for WIN Scouts below.

6. The Seeker may also issue “Honourable Mention” recognitions for notable submissions that are not selected for monetary awards.

7. The Seeker may wish to partner with the Solver at the conclusion of the Challenge. Please indicate your interest in partnering.

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please login and register your interest, to complete the submission form.

The submitted proposals must be written in English, and in your submission form response and attachments, you should include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual), Solver (Organization) or WIN Scout – (submission uses an alternative form).
2. Solution Level - the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your solution.
3. Partnering - there may be an opportunity to partner at the conclusion of this Challenge. Please indicate if partnering is of interest to you.
4. Problem & Opportunity - highlight the innovation in your approach to the Problem, its point of difference, and the specific advantages/benefits this brings (up to 500 words).
5. Solution Overview - detail the features of your solution and how they address the Solution Requirements (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field below, and to add any appropriate supporting data, diagrams, etc.).
6. Experience - Expertise, use cases and skills you or your organization have in relation to your proposed solution (up to 500 words).
7. Solution Risks - any risks you see with your solution and how you would plan for this (up to 500 words).
8. Timeline, capability and costs - describe what you think is required to deliver the solution, estimated time and cost (up to 500 words).
9. Online References - provide links to any publications, articles or press releases of relevance (up to 500 words).

Wazoku encourages the use by Solvers of AI approaches to help develop their submissions, though any produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.

Find out more about participation in Wazoku Crowd Challenges.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on November 04th, 2024.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted on the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.

After the Challenge submission close date, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the winning solution(s) according to the timeline in the Challenge header. All Solvers who submit a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.