Many, if not most, industrial processes are designed to preheat the feed streams with heat recovery from some of the byproduct streams. However, 20 to 50% of the energy consumed in industrial processes is discharged as waste heat.
This heat can be discharged with the flue gas, with the cooling water, and ultimately to the environment as an increase in ambient air temperature. Flue gas is often at temperatures which can vaporize water, and the resulting steam can generate electricity to effectively reduce energy cost.
While there is no accepted definition of low-grade waste heat, waste heat streams less than 300 °C are often not utilized. The amount of waste heat at lower temperatures is sizable, but the economics for recovery are less favorable. Technology development is needed to make the utilization of lower temperature waste heat commercially viable.
This symposium explores the challenges to overcome and opportunities to expand waste heat recovery at lower temperatures.
Topics include but are not limited to the following:
The Horizons Symposiums bring together industry, academia, and government research professionals to discuss technology developments, encouraging new initiatives to solve difficult problems.
