Relying on electricity in lieu of traditional energy-intensive steam boilers, VoltaSplit is said to reduce the direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of distillation units by up to 90%. This, in turn, is expected to enable process industries to meet regulatory requirements, improve operational performance and reduce their long-term environmental impact.
According to Sulzer, distillation is a cornerstone process in numerous industries, yet it is traditionally characterised by high energy consumption. Conventional distillation systems often rely on on-site steam boilers powered by carbon-intensive fossil fuels, contributing to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of refinery and chemical complexes and to the carbon footprint of chemical products, fuels and solvents.
Designed to reduce the energy consumed by distillation plants and the associated CO2 emissions, VoltaSplit has reportedly been proven to increase the efficient use of energy and to reduce operational costs by cutting energy requirements up to 20 times compared to traditional solutions like electric reboilers.
Sulzer’s approach uses electricity as its single power source to run distillation units, enabling process industries to decrease the energy they require. Moreover, it permits them to shift to renewable energy when available without any major investment in new infrastructure.
Sulzer executive chairwoman Suzanne Thoma said: “With the launch of VoltaSplit, we aim to speed up the global adoption of transformative technology that enables essential industries to produce at lower costs while saving on GHG emissions.”