RECOVER YOUR WASTED HEAT AND PUT IT TO WORK TO REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS IN YOUR INDUSTRIAL PROCESS.

Your cooling systems and industrial processes emit a substantial amount of heat that is currently being wasted. By capturing and recirculating wasted heat within your plant and towards your production, Armstrong significantly improves the thermal efficiency of your facilities and reduces your need for primary energy. This greatly impacts the thermal decarbonization roadmap of your site by decreasing—and sometimes eliminating—the required purchase of renewable energy.

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only converted from one form to another or moved from place to place.

—Law of Conservation of Energy, the First Law of Thermodynamics

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU ARE ACTUALLY WASTING?

Industrial heating systems are typically built around steam boilers that generate heat by burning natural gas, coal, or other carbon-based fuel sources. Optimal steam system efficiency can exceed 80%, but most site installations don’t even reach 60% efficiency. Typically, only a limited amount of heat is transferred to the product, while a significant portion of the primary energy is released as low-temperature wet air through stacks.

Traditional cooling systems extract heat from the air or a product and move it to cooling towers or dry coolers, where it is eventually released into the environment—and wasted. As competition for renewable resources increases, wouldn’t it make more sense to add that wasted heat back into your processes, after raising its temperature?

Industrial Heat accounts for 29% of global energy demand and 31% of that heat is used below 150°C / 300°F.

—BloombergNEF / World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

ARMSTRONG HAS A BETTER SOLUTION—FOR YOUR COMPANY AND THE PLANET

Circular Thermal℠ makes a fundamental change in thermal utility systems by using steam only for applications above 120°C (250°F). Because hot water systems have higher efficiency than steam systems, hot water replaces steam for all applications below 120°C (250°F). This de-steaming not only brings a significant gain in efficiency—it also creates the backbone for using direct heat recovery, or heat exchangers, to recover high-grade wasted heat. By adding industrial high-temperature heat pumps, low-grade heat from cooling systems and process stacks can be recovered and upgraded to valuable high-grade heat.

WHERE DOES THE ENERGY GO?

Simply stated, the first law of thermodynamics tells us that energy cannot be destroyed or created—its quantity within a system remains stable. When energy is put to work, sometimes by converting it from one form to another, it is degraded to a lower quality of energy. So, if energy in an industrial plant is degraded but
not destroyed, how does it leave the plant?

Currently, primary energy is brought into a plant in the form of electricity and fossil fuels—which are increasingly being replaced by renewables. These sources are measurable, so we know the quantity of incoming primary energy. In a typical factory, less than 20% of incoming energy is used for moving things (motors converting electricity into mechanical energy) or lighting the facilities. Due to energy efficiency, part of this energy eventually ends up as waste heat that increases the building’s interior air temperature.

Does that mean that the remaining 80% of the primary energy used for thermal is going into the products being manufactured? In most industries, only a small portion of the primary energy is converted into chemical energy contained in the final product. Furthermore, the input materials used in manufacturing are usually at the same (often ambient) temperature as output products are when leaving the plant. In fact, the majority of primary energy ends up as waste heat that is still frequently lost through stacks, cooling towers, and sewage.

CIRCULAR THERMAL℠ IS AT THE HEART OF ARMSTRONG’S DECARBONIZATION METHODOLOGY

Armstrong’s methodology for thermal decarbonization includes three steps: optimize thermal system efficiency, minimize energy demand from process, and decarbonize the facility’s primary energy sources. As part of system optimization, Circular Thermal SM often delivers the greatest impact with positive return on investment.

To receive a copy of the white paper “CIRCULAR THERMAL: HOW TO PUT WASTE HEAT BACK INTO INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND BEYOND” please contact your Associated Steam, Air & Hot Water Sales Engineer or our offices at 800-477-1620.

Associated Steam, Air and Hot Water is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier Manufacturer’s Representative for all your Heat Exchange and Fluid Specialties requirements including Airside, Filtration, Flow Measurement, Hot Water, Valve and Steam products. Associated provides total solutions in steam and condensate, heat transfer, hot water and humidification in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, northern Virginia and northern West Virginia. Associated Steam is a proud to offer products under the Pennsylvania COSTARS-8 contract.

At Associated Steam, Air & Hot Water we understand that the success of any project depends upon an understanding of the facility needs, optimum selection and design of the system, and reliable performance of the system equipment. Established in 1954, our team offers over 200 years’ industry experience, with staff ranging from Engineers to Contractors. We interrelate with consulting engineers, contractors, end users and maintenance staff to ensure your satisfaction. Associated’s body and depth of experience makes us the ideal partner for all of your Steam, Air and Hot Water needs.