PROFILE: GREENCON SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES
COGENERATION USING SOLAR THERMAL TECHNOLOGY BMW (SA), under guidance from their Munich based head office, have begun the in-troduction of energy saving technologies and systems aimed at reducing reliance on car-bon based, nonrenewable energy sources. Various interventions have been implemented by BMW engineers and designers to reduce the consumption of their world leading vehi-cles; the same ideals are being extended to a number of their fabrication plants around the world. In South Africa, BMW has their manufacturing plant situated in Rosslyn, northwest of Pretoria. The Rosslyn plant identified their paint application facility as a major consumer of energy, particularly gas used to heat processes for paint application to the 3-series vehi-cles manufactured at the plant. Due to BMW’s factory location and design, the option of using the high solar radiation levels common to that part of the country, made the option for solar viable and feasible. Greencon Solar Technologies, based in Johannesburg, were asked to help design and implement a large scale solar thermal collector field covering 200m² on the roof of the paint plant at Rosslyn. Some of the challenges faced were structural integrity of the roof, which had not originally been designed to hold the extra weight a 200m²-bank of collectors would add to the structural load. Many of these difficulties were overcome by the introduction of cutting edge solar thermal collectors. Using the latest technology in pumped collector system’s that combine both vacuum tube technology and reflective backing materials, ensured that the collectors could be laid flat on the surface of the factory roof. Structural engineers tasked with ap-proving the extra load on the roof, sanctioned this additional weight because the flat appli-cation meant the sail load of the panels was negligible. Further technical complications also included the high sensitivity the plant has to for-eign materials such a silicone. As such, Greencon had to assemble all solar panels with materials to ensure compliance with BMW tests facilities. BMW requested comprehensive data logging and recording equipment for the whole system. This information was to be made available to their engineers at any time. Resol Thermal Controllers was selected as the technology of choice. Resol controllers would control all pump activation and speed control as well as record and transmit data to BMW’s cloud based server, which in turn would enable Greencon and BMW technicians to have 24/7 visibility of the system from anywhere in the world. The results to date have far exceeded expectations and the transition from test facility to full scale plant is now under discussion. Provisions have been made for easy expansion of the current facility, and seamless integration into the existing boiler line. BMW (SA) in partnership with Greencon Solar Technologies continue work towards ensuring fabrication facilities follow the same modern vehicle ethos of more “efficient dy-namic” use of energy. Greencon Solar Technologies www.greencon.co.za | info@greencon.co.za | 0861-47-33-62
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