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Description
Established in 2018, Pro M Consulting EOOD has emerged as a pivotal player in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering. The company is at the forefront of addressing a critical challenge in the realm of renewable energy: the intermittent nature of wind and solar power generation. While various technologies have been proposed to tackle this issue, ranging from Li-ion batteries and compressed energy storage to pumped hydro and supercapacitors, a universally effective solution remains elusive.
Recognizing the pressing need for a breakthrough, Pro M Consulting Ltd. has embarked on a mission to pioneer a prototype capable of storing "green" energy in the form of temperature differences. The company has devised an ingenious method for converting green electricity into cold energy, which can be stored over extended periods and harnessed for cooling applications during periods when green electricity is unavailable. Furthermore, this stored cold energy can be utilized for electricity generation if waste heat exceeding ambient temperature is accessible, such as in industrial settings or from geothermal sources.
The heart of this process lies in the well-established ammonia-water refrigeration cycle, which leverages external heat as an energy source to produce a cooling effect. Pro M Consulting EOOD is poised to make a significant impact in the realm of renewable energy storage, introducing innovative solutions that align with the quest for a sustainable and resilient energy future.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the challenge of efficiently storing renewable energy to mitigate CO₂ emissions and enhance industrial processes. Specifically, it tackles the issue of inconsistency in renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which do not produce a constant supply of electricity. Existing solutions, such as batteries and hydro storage, have limitations in terms of cost and scalability.
This project included the following main activities:
Literature Review and Process Design : Study open-source literature to identify key methods for integrating the ammonia-water refrigeration cycle into cold energy storage. This research has produced a complete process flow diagram with descriptions to guide prototype fabrication.
Prototype Construction : Build a functional prototype for cold energy storage, adaptable for various applications, including vaccine coolers, refrigerated trucks, and industrial cooling. The prototype will serve both promotional and testing purposes.
Intellectual Property Protection: An utility model in Bulgaria, has been registered.
The project proposes a novel solution: converting renewable electricity into storable cold energy using a modified ammonia-water refrigeration cycle. This process allows "green" electricity to be stored as liquid ammonia, which can then be used later for cooling or, if waste heat is available, to regenerate electricity. Unlike current small-scale devices, this technology could be scaled up for various applications, including vaccine transportation, refrigerated trucking, industrial freezing, and building cooling, ultimately reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The company developed the prototype of the device. It is equipped with sensors for measuring different temperatures - in the evaporator, in the condenser, in the surrounding space.