Jul 25 2005
The Center for Technology Transfer, Inc. (CTT) has committed $350,000 in funding to Erie, Pennsylvania-based Spinworks LLC. Spinworks has developed a series of technologies which will enable Wisconsin thermal metal processing companies to cut the usage of natural gas in their furnaces. CTT’s funding will be used to employ a sales representative focusing on Wisconsin, and to help Spinworks expand its business and product offerings. While Spinworks’ “Spyrocor” inserts have been sold to more than 25 companies in other locations, no sales efforts were made in Wisconsin until CTT staff began working with Spinworks in late 2004. As CTT and Spinworks completed the investment transaction, Spinworks initiated its activity in Wisconsin resulting in the first Wisconsin installation on June 13, 2005 at Treat All Metals, Inc. Spinworks estimates there are 90 heat-treating businesses in Wisconsin, many of which have multiple locations. CTT estimates that the use of Spyrocors at only 20 locations in Wisconsin can save up to 1.8 million therms of natural gas per annum (worth in excess of $1.3 million in annual savings at current prices).
Spyrocor Inserts
Spyrocor is a high tech ceramic (silicon-carbide) insert for gas-fired radiant tube heaters. Radiant tube heaters are typically used in metal heat-treating furnaces. The heaters are long tubes, often in a U shape, which have natural-gas fueled burners at one end of tubes to produce a flame and heated gas which then flow through the tubes to produce heat for conditioning metals (e.g., strengthening them or otherwise changing some of their properties). Each furnace often has upwards of a dozen of these tubes. The patented twisted design of the Spyrocor produces non-turbulent, high convection flow resulting in the highest possible rate of uniform heat transfer. As a result, the Spyrocor reduces heat loss and the energy demands of the process by 15% to 20%.
Focus on Energy Industrial Program Will Assist
Now that CTT has identified and helped finance this new energy-efficiency technology, the Focus on Energy Industrial Program will become involved. The Industrial Program has energy-efficiency experts who work with Wisconsin companies to evaluate and adopt new energy saving, expense-reducing technologies. They will work with Spinworks to make Wisconsin thermal metal processing cluster companies aware of the technology, and to help monitor and quantify the natural gas savings. John Nicol, manager of the Industrial Program said, “CTT works closely with our program and we are always pleased when they identify and support new technologies which can then be deployed in the State. This partnership is part of what makes the Wisconsin Focus on Energy Program unique in comparison to energy programs in other states.” (Additional information about Focus on Energy’s Industrial Program can be found at www.focusonenergy.com/industrial.)