Denso Corporation (Headquarters: Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture, President: Shinnosuke Hayashi, hereinafter referred to as Denso) has announced that three projects have received the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for Establishing New Air Cleaning Technology through Technological Development" as part of the "2024 Energy Conservation Award." The award ceremony will be held on January 29, 2025, at Tokyo Big Sight.
The "Energy Conservation Award" is hosted by the General Incorporated Foundation, the Energy Conservation Center, recognizing excellent energy-saving activities and advanced energy-saving products developed by companies and municipalities.
In this year's Energy Conservation Award, Denso received a total of three awards: the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award," "Minister of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Award," and "Chairman's Award from the Energy Conservation Center." As a result, the company's receipt of the Energy Conservation Award has been 15 consecutive times since 2009. Additionally, the top Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award was received for the first time in nine years, and this marks Denso's first award for three projects simultaneously in the energy-saving case category.
Denso will continue to engage in thorough energy-saving activities across the company to contribute to the maintenance of the global environment and the realization of a Carbon Neutrality society.
■ Overview of Awarded Cases and Products
1.
"Establishing New Air Cleaning Technology through Technological Development"
(Mechatronics System Manufacturing Department/ Taiansei Manufacturing)
Focusing on the air cleaning process that consumes a large amount of compressed air*, this energy-saving initiative has achieved a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional cleaning methods by developing a cleaning technology that allows a single electric blower to simultaneously handle both spraying and suction. As specific initiatives, ① an ejector that operates with low pressure airflow generated by the electric blower was independently developed, and ② a simple 'spraying and suction integrated air cleaning system' incorporating the developed ejector was realized at low cost. As a result of implementing this system in 12 processes within the manufacturing department, an energy reduction equivalent to 3.9kL/year of crude oil was achieved, and furthermore, by expanding it company-wide and to trading partners, a maximum reduction of 7,567kL/year is anticipated. In the environment of the Mechatronics System Manufacturing Department factory, which often handles small components, the existing products, which have large sizes and high costs with high airflow, were not suitable. The commitment to thoroughly pursue energy-saving activities, along with leveraging internal expertise to develop an ejector with the optimal shape suited for the blower, was highly evaluated.
*Air cleaning process: A process that involves 'spraying' with high-speed airflow to remove foreign substances and dry components, and 'suction' to collect the removed foreign substances along with the airflow.
2.
‘Energy-saving activities in logistics through the effective improvement of full truckload and DX technologies led by shippers’
(Production Control Department/Headquarters)
Denso promotes energy saving and CO2 reduction by reducing lead time across the entire supply chain and improving logistics efficiency in the logistics network connecting trading partners, the company, and customers. This time, through primarily the following initiatives to reduce transport distance, a reduction of 1,256kL/year equivalent to crude oil and 2,514t/year of CO2 emissions was achieved. Additionally, leading activities as a shipper in response to the current social issue of a shortage of logistics workers and collaborating with a wide range of partners, including transportation companies and group companies, while also focusing on improving the work environment for those in the logistics industry to reduce labor load, was also evaluated.

(1) Direct access for full trailers.
Full trailers, capable of transporting large volumes due to their double vehicle size, generally require transfers to conventional trucks at relay points because of their large size and limited loading and unloading locations. Improvements in the layout of unloading areas and reductions in handling time have been implemented to allow direct access into the factory, establishing a new model for efficient remote transport.

(2) Utilizing DX technologies for optimizing delivery plans.
By applying the self-developed pseudo-quantum technology "DENSO Mk-D", an optimization algorithm has been developed that can propose optimal delivery routes with high frequency and equal intervals. Moreover, by having AI analyze truck bed images, the loading rate and transport efficiency have been improved.
3.
"Small air-free hybrid dry air generation device with compression ~ Joint development with a specialized manufacturer ~"
(Electro Manufacturing Department / Koda Manufacturing Co.)
低温検査における結露・着霜を防ぐために除湿を行うドライエアーは、これまでロスが大きい圧縮エアーを用いて生成されていましたが、冷媒を使用し除湿する冷却式と、吸着材の中に大気圧の空気を通して除湿を行う吸着式を組み合わせたドライエアー装置を除湿装置メーカーのオリオン機械株式会社(以下、オリオン機械)と新たに開発し、圧縮エアーの使用量を大幅に削減しました。この方式を採用している除湿装置は主に空調システム用であり、工場の生産ラインに導入するためには小型化が必要でした。デンソーとオリオン機械の知見を生かして課題をひとつひとつ解決し、装置内のローターや送風機などを小型化することで、圧縮エアーを使用する従来機とほぼ同じ設置面積で、CO2排出量を75%削減できる機器を実現しました。今後、エレクトロ製造部全体で装置を置き換えることで、原油換算で 938kL/年の削減を見込んでいるほか、デンソーグループ国内外の工場へも展開を進めていくことで、さらなる省エネ効果を得られる見込みです。また、オリオン機械で一般販売することで、他業界のCO2削減にも貢献することが期待されます。
ご参考：
デンソー、疑似量子技術「DENSO Mk-D」を開発、世界で初めて5 million変数規模の実問題に対応

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