ELSAFRA II S.p.A.
REVOLUP develops and manufactures a range of Stirling cycle machines based on an innovative rotary architecture that allows for the evolution of multiple thermodynamic cycles simultaneously, resulting in greater compactness and better power performance compared to conventional machines.
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The company aims to mature the technology, demonstrate its industrial scalability, and initiate the commercialization phase of the product. In addition to designing and developing the range of machines, REVOLUP will be responsible for the industrialization of the product and the development and coordination of the production chain.
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The high-tech aspects of the activity include:
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development of an innovative product based on a patent of which the partners are inventors;
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research activities on the thermofluid dynamics optimization of the machine based on the use of advanced computational thermofluid dynamics tools to support design, developed internally or in collaboration with research institutions;
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development of specific know-how in mechanical design and technological aspects of manufacturing;
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development of specific solutions for the use of the machine for exploiting different thermal sources (from renewable sources or for thermal recovery).
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Given the highly innovative nature of the solution developed, these activities may lead to the development of specific patents. REVOLUP's activity consists of engineering rotary Stirling cycle machines following the entire production process, articulated in different phases of research and development, thermofluid dynamics and mechanical design, production, and development of specific solutions for the for the use of the machine in different industrial contexts.
"We develop a machine to produce electric energy recovering waste heat.
The Stirling Cycle in a new machine, patented by us."
What is it about
We are talking about a machine capable of converting thermal waste produced from conventional energy sources (renewable or recoupable), into electrical energy.
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The machine operates according to a Stirling thermodynamic cycle, and it is based on an innovative rotary architecture with radially sliding mobile blades.
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This configuration allows planning flexibility in defining the law of variation of the volumes of the workspaces, allowing an improvement in performance, in terms of work and efficiency compared to the known Stirling cycle machines. Furthermore, thanks to the simultaneous evolution of more thermodynamic cycles in the machine, the configuration results in being extremely compact.
Field of Application
The machine allows the mechanical/electrical production of power from renewable energy sources (biogas, biomasse, solar energy), or from thermal heat recovery of thermal waste, at medium and high temperatures in industrial processes: steelworks, glassmakers. Alternatively, it can be used as an operative machine for applications like heat pumps or refrigerators.
Benefits
Compared to the known Kinematic and free piston Stirling cycle machines, the rotary architecture allows greater compactness, thanks to the simultaneous evolution of several thermodynamic cycles. Furthermore, it does not require the use of moving parts in reciprocating motion (pistons and displacers), therefore is characterised by fewer vibrations. The machine is easily scalable and can be combined in modular solutions in order to increase the power produced in the application.
