Trends in Waste Heat Recovery Practices in the Process Industry

Alan Rossiter

Executive Director, External Relations and Educational Program Development

UH Energy, University of Houston

ABSTRACT

In many industrial facilities, most of the heat provided to the processes is ultimately rejected to the ambient environment. A large part of this loss is inherent in the physics and chemistry of the processes – most significantly, the Second Law of Thermodynamics. However, the recovery or elimination of industrial waste heat presents a huge opportunity for energy savings. In this presentation, we will examine the typical characteristics of heat flow through oil refining and chemical processes, and identify areas where improved heat recovery and better energy utilization can lead to significant energy savings. This includes the impact of enhanced heat transfer options, emerging technologies for energy conversion and decarbonization, and alternative unit operations for the processes.