Innovative project on energy efficiency at KBÜ TECHNOPARK

Elya Mechatronics Industry and Trade Ltd. Co., operating within the Karabük University Technology Development Zone (TEKNOKENT), has been granted support by TÜBİTAK for the project titled “Industry 4.0 Based Hot Water Monitoring and Control”.

The project, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice Evlen from the Department of Industrial Design Engineering at Karabük University, aims to provide advantages such as energy savings and cost reduction by ensuring the efficient management of hot water systems.

The company, which has qualified for support for the “Industry 4.0 Based Hot Water Monitoring and Control” project under the TÜBİTAK 1507 SME R&D Startup Support Program, aims to offer innovative solutions in hot water monitoring and control systems with this project.

Project coordinator Evlen stated, “As Elya Mechatronics Industry and Trade Limited Company located in the Karabük University Technology Development Zone, this year we have qualified for support for our second project within the TÜBİTAK 1507 R&D projects in one year.”

“We aim to utilize solar energy and natural gas boiler systems together for more efficient use.”

Evlen mentioned that they plan to enhance energy efficiency by integrating the natural gas and solar energy systems used in homes and workplaces, saying, “In this project, we have prepared a project to conduct hot water monitoring and control based on Industry 4.0. We plan to carry out a study on how the natural gas and solar energy systems used in homes and workplaces can work in combination to provide energy efficiency. With this system, we aim to combine solar energy and natural gas boiler systems for more efficient use. Thus, the solar energy system can be used in an integrated manner with the natural gas system when needed.”

Evlen also expressed that they have developed a mobile application to assist users in planning and directing this process, stating, “Users will be able to comfortably manage the heating and hot water monitoring of their homes via the mobile application we have prepared, even when they are not at home, using their computers or phones. This system can also be applied for industrial companies and factories. We aim to eliminate the energy gap caused by the need to switch to natural gas due to inefficient use and lack of control of the water accumulated in solar collectors. In this direction, we plan to use hot water and natural gas simultaneously and efficiently in the collectors. Additionally, we aim to support users by preparing a mobile application to assist them in planning and directing this process.”

“We have observed that efficiency reflects in appropriate amounts in natural gas bills.”

Emphasizing that at least 20-25% energy efficiency is achieved if the system is implemented in simulations, Evlen stated, “A simulation program was used to conduct efficiency analysis during the preparation phase of our project. According to this efficiency analysis, when this system is implemented, approximately 20-25% energy efficiency is achieved, and we have observed that this efficiency reflects in appropriate amounts in natural gas bills. Additionally, with the artificial intelligence-supported mobile application we have prepared within the project, we will provide users with support and guidance on where the existing hot water accumulation can be utilized. This application, which you can download to your phone, has features to detect how much hot water you have, how much of the hot water can be used, and the leakage rate.”