Converting Waste Heat Energy to Usable Electricity for WPCC
Problem statement
Would you throw your hard-earned money into an 1800-degree oven? Industrial-grade ovens require mass amounts of heat generation and are necessary tools to cast the turbine blades for our everyday electricity to life-saving MRI machines. However, this high heat production leaves an excess of wasted potential. Our client, Wisconsin Precision Casting Corporation, is looking for a way to recover wasted heat and turn it into a cost-saving profit. Current waste heat recovery technology can sell for approximately 4.8 million USD for the unit cost plus installation and integration costs [1]. We intend to give our client a solution that utilizes the unavoidable high temperatures of their ovens and has an overall financial return. Ultimately, our solution will put money back into our clients’ pockets giving them a competitive edge in the world of investment casting. With up to 50% of industrial energy lost as waste heat [2], it’s evident that a solution like ours is essential for improving process efficiency. By enhancing our efficiency, we not only reduce energy consumption and costs but also decrease our carbon footprint, contributing to a greener future. Additionally, this initiative will strengthen the UW Department of Mechanical Engineering’s ties with a local Wisconsin-based business.
Team members
Jaclyn Ness – facilitator
Chase Podurgiel – communicator
Will Krueger – accountant
Jacob Pellinen – admin
Client
Allison Wilberschied
Wisconsin Precision Casting Corporation