lämmöntalteenottomenetelmiä

Lämpöentalteenottomenetelmät (Heat recovery methods) refer to techniques and technologies used to capture and reuse waste heat generated by various processes. The primary goal is to improve energy efficiency by reducing the need for primary energy sources and lowering operational costs. These methods are applicable across a wide range of sectors, including industrial manufacturing, building heating and cooling, and power generation.

Common heat recovery techniques involve transferring heat from a hotter stream to a colder stream. This can be achieved through devices like heat exchangers, which are designed to facilitate efficient thermal contact without direct mixing of the fluids. Recuperators and regenerators are types of heat exchangers. Recuperators transfer heat continuously, while regenerators store heat in a thermal mass for a period before releasing it.

In industrial settings, waste heat from exhaust gases, cooling water, or process streams can be recovered. This recovered heat can then be used for preheating combustion air, warming up incoming raw materials, generating steam, or supplying heating for adjacent buildings. In buildings, heat recovery systems are frequently integrated into ventilation systems. Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) or energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) capture heat from outgoing stale air and transfer it to incoming fresh air, significantly reducing the energy required to condition the fresh air.

Other methods include heat pumps, which can move heat from a lower temperature source to a higher temperature sink, and organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) that convert low-grade heat into electricity. The selection of a specific heat recovery method depends on factors such as the temperature and quantity of the waste heat, the intended use of the recovered heat, and the economic feasibility of the installation.