Birmingham’s Aston University has collaborated with Midland-headquartered cast house technology experts via a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to plan new energy-saving ways of recycling aluminium, which might save almost 50 per cent of the total consumption demanded by the process.
This latest alliance with Mechatherm International Ltd was forged immediately after the successful accomplishment of the company’s first partnership with Aston University, which led to the discovery of a more smart designing technique for furnaces and auxiliary equipment for the aluminium sector worldwide. The joint venture brought out more intricate blueprints, high-end automation solutions and algorithms.
Usually, KTP refers to a three-way relationship between an established business, an academic partner and a highly qualified, sought-after researcher, also called the KTP associate. Mechatherm International Limited, for the past years, has earned a perfect name for itself in the creation of bespoke cast house machinery or tool for the aluminium industry.
Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material which can retain its original properties even after going through the process of transformation, whereas the production of primary aluminium is extremely lengthy and demands huge steady investments. With the rising price of energy and the stark unavailability of it in many places, it is becoming more difficult to run aluminium smelters that consume a massive amount of uninterrupted power to generate the raw form of the metal used in the commercial sector. The prevailing technologies of extracting aluminium come with extensive operational costs but have very fragile thermal potency, emphasising more on the advent of energy-efficient recycling methods. Moreover, recycling aluminium releases less carbon into the air than primary aluminium production.
This collaboration will aid Mechatherm in accumulating vital knowledge in the field of thermal management processes developing and delivering a series of cost-effective solutions to the commercial market that might introduce energy-smart options through waste heat application.
Senior lecturers in the mechanical and design engineering department of Aston University, Dr Ahmed Rezk and Dr Muhammed Imran, will be marching the team forward for technological explorations. Their research & Development method focuses on generating unique thermal energy systems that enhance energy performance using modelling and activation, thermodynamics and heat and mass transfer.
The managing director at Mechatherm International Ltd, Alan Burrows, asserted: “This partnership will allow us to access Aston University’s expertise to develop a range of energy-efficient recycling solutions which meet environmental and system performance targets and react quickly to market and regulatory changes.”
The senior lecturer in mechanical and design engineering at Aston University, Dr Imran, commented: “This is an exciting opportunity to leverage the knowledge Dr Rezk and I have with thermal processes and energy management. It will enable Mechatherm to deliver the next generation of aluminium recycling technology, which is important for supporting business growth in the aluminium recycling industry.”
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