Thermal energy is produced in enormous quantities by industrial activities that can be harnessed to generate power or heat. Waste heat recovery systems are a technology that collects waste heat from sources such as exhaust gases, hot liquids or heat generating equipment, and converts it into usable energy, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. One common way of generating power from waste heat is by using a waste heat boiler to generate hot steam, which powers a turbine that is attached to a generator, producing electricity. The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is another method that uses a low boiling point fluid to generate power from heat sources of medium or low temperatures.
For heating, recovered heat is often used to preheat combustion air, boiler feedwater, or process fluids, reducing the need for additional fuel. It can also support space heating in large facilities, especially during colder months.
Facilities can lower operating costs, increase overall efficiency, and make better use of energy that would otherwise be squandered by integrating waste heat recovery technologies.
For heating, recovered heat is often used to preheat combustion air, boiler feedwater, or process fluids, reducing the need for additional fuel. It can also support space heating in large facilities, especially during colder months.
Facilities can lower operating costs, increase overall efficiency, and make better use of energy that would otherwise be squandered by integrating waste heat recovery technologies.
