Role of heat integration in a sustainable, low-carbon future
The ongoing pursuit of a more efficient, equitable and environmentally conscious energy future is commonly framed within the sustainability-based concepts of the energy transition and a circular economy. At their core, these discussions focus on reducing carbon footprint, whether through lowering primary energy consumption or minimizing waste and pollution.
The global response to climate change has added another layer of complexity, whether that be in the form of policymakers introducing various mechanisms to influence behaviours or companies strategically investing in various energy efficiency initiatives on their own.
In the August 2024 issue of Decarbonisation Technology magazine, Warren Chung, Regional Director at Solex, expands on some of those energy efficiency initiatives — specifically the opportunity to enhance energy recovery and efficiency through heat integration.
"Implementing heat integration mechanisms into existing operations is highly effective and low risk, and can be a high-return approach for minimizing energy consumption in industrial settings," writes Chung.
Although many industrial processes already incorporate some level of heat integration, difficult-to-handle process streams frequently remain unutilized due to perceived constraints. Chung notes that tapping into otherwise wasted heat from these previously overlooked streams presents a significant opportunity for operators to incrementally reduce costs and lower emissions.
"Heat pipe heat exchangers (HPHE) and moving bed heat exchangers (MBHE) are two heat integration technologies that take very different approaches to improving the energy performance of industrial processes," he writes.
"However, both can play a similar role in optimizing energy usage and enhancing sustainability in industrial settings."
This entry was tagged Energy, and last updated on 2024-8-1
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