Heat Recovery Systems
A heat recovery system, or heat exchanger system, is any method that recaptures heat generated as the byproduct of one process and reuses it for another process. As energy costs continue to rise, heat recovery is becoming more popular in industrial, commercial and residential settings. Heat exchangers used in recovery systems are categorized by their general construction with plate, air-cooled and shell and tube being the three most common groupings. The variety allows heat recovery systems to include many different transfer options such as air to air, air to water, air to steam, air to fluid, fluid to fluid, power generation and energy audits. This wide assortment ensures that all industries, from chemical processing to air pollution control and residential environments can utilize heat recovery to save energy and increase efficiency.
One of the most important aspects of heat recovery systems is the ability to transfer heat from one fluid or gas to another without allowing the two to mix. In most arrangements, the heated substance is run across one side of a plate or tube while the cooler substance is run along the opposite side. Most often materials for heat recovery systems are good conductors such as ceramic and metal. The tube or plate transfers the heat from one substance to the other. The fresh air or liquid can then be used for other processes. Although heat recovery often serves as a pre-warming step, additional heating may be required. Most residential heat recovery systems utilize tube and shell ventilation to use warm stale air to pre-warm fresh air for heating or for appliances such as ovens and dryers. While industrial settings may use heat recovery ventilation, many use air to fluid systems as well depending on the manufacturing processes employed.