In the year under review (2008), the Innovation Fund has focused on and invested in a number of projects, three of which will contribute significantly to the effort of protecting our ecosystem and in reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emission. These projects form the highlight of this year’s Annual Report.
The benefits of a simulator, particularly in the optimisation of already running plants, have become crucial due to the increased demand of electricity and the ever growing need to reduce CO2 emissions. The Innovation fund annual report discusses the Industrial Plant Simulator (Flownex Simulation Environment) on page 19. The simulator was part of a research project that looked extensively at the needs of South African power plant designers and power generators.
“In developing the IPS, Abrie Venter, the project’s coordinator said they sought to develop a robust simulation software platform. “This is the reason why we chose to use a simulation engine based on Flownex, which is a state of the art dynamic systems Computational Fluid Dynamics solver that is recognised as one of the best in the world.”
“Realising the needs of South African companies (specifically plant designers and power generators), M-Tech, a company specializing in systems development and integration, as well as the design, analysis and optimization of complex thermal-fluid systems such as coal, gas and nuclear power plants, started a “research project that looked extensively at the needs of South African power plant designers and power generators.”
“...Technological Innovation is key in responding to the challenge of climate change...”
“…namely Industrial Plant Simulator is a technology that will, through making electricity power stations more efficient, reduce the levels of GHG released into the atmosphere.”
Flownex Used in Industrial Plant Simulator to reduce GHG