Waste heat recovery: introductory guide
Information about waste heat recovery and its potential as a low carbon heat source, as well as the process of capturing and utilising heat from industrial and commercial processes. The recovered heat can be used in a range of applications including heat networks.
A. Technology Summary Table
A.1 Comparison of waste heat technologies
A high-level comparison between the different technologies is shown in Table 7 below. These technologies are applicable to a range of sectors and applications, with the key constraints being the recoverable grade of heat and the medium used to do so.
Some technologies will be more suited to specific industries, due to the constraints of their operations. An example of this would be the unsuitability of using some types of heat pumps in an explosive environment, such as a distillery.
Note these technologies are scored relative to each other.
| Technology | Cost | Typical heat recovery medium | Applicable grade of heat | Maintenance requirements | Typical efficiency (%) | Spatial impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat exchanger | Low | Any fluid | All (depends on application) | Low | >90 | Low |
| Waste heat recovery boiler | Low | Steam | Medium/ High | Low | 90 | Low |
| Economiser | Low | Steam | Medium | Low | 90 | Low |
| Absorption chiller | Medium | Flue gases | Medium | Medium | 70 -140[21] | Medium |
| ORC | High | Flue gases | Medium | High | 30[22] | High |
| Steam Rankine Cycle | High | Steam | Medium/ High | Medium/ High | 50-60 | High |
| Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG) | High | N/A | Medium | Low | 5-15[23] | Medium |
Contact
Email: heatnetworks@gov.scot
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