Waste Heat Recovery

These people have a good explanation of the process and a lot of case studies for a variety of industries

http://www.turboden.it/en/orc.asp

Al

Cool. Maybe you could use another unit to recover the waste heat from their condenser?

Check out freeenergynews.com . Look at the topic breakdown on the left side. Also check out the top 100 technologies. #1 is Eneco , a company that is working on transforming heat to electricity directly, without moving parts. There are also Stirling areas et all.

All the best,

Ron Wagner

Use pinch technology.

Run your waste heat thru a greenhouse. Grow food or heat the water to raise fish or produce electric power. All depends on what temp your waste heat is.

Domestic central heating boilers can operate on the recuperation principle. The exhaust is used to pre-heat the incoming air used in the combustion chamber. The principle enables the chamber to operate at higher temperatures compared with the same quantity of fuel used without recuperation, or at the same temperature using less fuel than without recuperation. Get the idea? Now, apply the same principle to a major thermal power station....

Many industrial plants that use steam as a utility heating medium will recover the condensate from around the works and return it to the boiler house for re-use.

Some ships use 'waste' engine heat to produce drinking water from seawater by evaporation.

Etc., etc.....

There are many different waste heat recovery techniques. The best for you really depends on your needs. Most of the time, the easiest way to utilize waste heat is to preheat another air stream. However, you can also install an absorption chiller if you need chilled water in your process.

There are many opportunities for waste heat recovery. I have designed and installed some 1500 such systems. Many of these were industrial processes. To assist you anyone with such knowledge will require more details on your process such as the volume, temperature and content of the waste heat stream. A schematic diagram of the process will also be required in order to determine the best use of the recovered heat. Unlike simple ventilation heat recovery systems, process systems require more effort for a good design. With ventilation, frost, humidity and temperature control as well filtration must be considered. In process systems, additional considerations such as condensation of entrained particles, vapors and /or acids oils etc. must also be considered. In using the heat recovered, burners and firing chambers must be able to accept the hot primary air, however materials being processed may be preheated prior to processing. Plant air, hot water and many other uses may apply. If nothing else, you may be able to start a very competitive laundry business on the side.

Check Ebay for books by Reay on the subject, ASHRAE Code books also have some heat recovery sections. If you need system design help, send me process info at

rlphaywards@hotmail.com regards, Richard

This is relatively newer science now that energy and fuels are so expensive. The sky's the limit for opportunities and custom designs. Problem here is, you need to be more specific if you want some serious ideas.

We'd need to know what process is being done that HAS the wasted heat. We'd need to know how much heat, is it dirty, humid, corrosive etc. Is it air, water, steam, hot hydraulic fluid, whatever.

Then we'd need to know what OTHER "work" needs to be assisted by this "recovered" heat energy.

Some of this info could get you some seriously good feedback.

There are many books and articles on waste heat recovery or energy recovery. A web search on those subjects will provide that.

As to your process, first, it is not clear how the heat leaves the process. A grinding process for plastics or metal produces heat from friction and energy used in the grinding equipment. It is how that heat leaves the process that will dictate the type of system needed. If you have fume hoods and air pollution equipment with fans, a waste heat recovery system may be useful in reducing the size and cost of such equipment in addition to the recovered heat benefit.

If their is no airflow from the process, only natural convection, it may be more difficult. Water heating and other liquid based systems may be possible.

Waste heat recovery can be accomplished by air to air recovery in flue gases or dryer air flows. It can also be done with air to liquid as in waste heat boilers. To determine which would be best for your application, a diagram of the equipment would be required. This should include the points of heat losses and possible uses of the recovered energy. Temperatures and volumes of the waste heat sources will be required to select and size any waste heat recovery equipment.

I have designed and installed over 1500 waste heat recovery systems, most in industrial processes. Major concerns in your process, in addition to the above, would be to determine what vapors and particles may be entrained in the waste heat flows.

If you need more, let me know at rlphaywards@hotmail.com

Richard

Go to www.isothermics.com for lots of work in the field. See the installation lists etc.