Solar steam system saves CO2

Solar steam systems from ECOTHERM can be installed on the roofs of industrial production facilities to reduce the fossil fuel consumption of existing steam boilers. Installation on the hall roof is quick, connecting the solar steam system is easy and on top of that, users reduce their CO2 emissions.

Ecotherm has adapted the technology of concentrated solar energy to the requirements of industrial steam applications. The sun is focussed through a series of movable mirrors onto a collector pipe. Water flowing through the manifold is converted into steam by the concentrated solar rays. The steam is then fed into an existing steam system at a specific temperature and pressure. Steam generation by a steam boiler fuelled by fossil fuels can be reduced accordingly. This not only saves costs, but also CO2.

20 years service life is not a problem

It is particularly important that the mirrors of the system can be adjusted very precisely, as this significantly influences the efficiency of the system. This requires a precision bearing, for which iglidur® plain bearings are used. The bearings had to be suitable for outdoor use and be able to withstand high UV radiation. The whole thing in a temperature range between -30 and +60 °C. Further requirements of Ecotherm were a bearing service life of 20 years, maintenance-free use and low costs. All these requirements can be fulfilled by iglidur® J UV bearings.