rekuperation

Rekuperation is the process of reclaiming usable energy that would otherwise be wasted and reusing it within a system or another process. The term is used across engineering disciplines and languages, notably in German where it is common in discussions of energy efficiency. Rekuperation can refer to various technologies that recover energy from one stream to apply it to another.

In buildings and industrial facilities, rekuperation most often appears as heat recovery ventilation (HRV) or energy recovery ventilation (ERV). In these systems, a heat exchanger transfers heat between outgoing exhaust air and incoming fresh air, reducing the heating or cooling load on the building. Some designs also manage moisture or latent heat to improve overall efficiency. The effectiveness depends on factors such as temperature and humidity differences, airflow rates, and the quality of the heat exchanger.

In transportation and mobile machinery, rekuperation typically denotes regenerative braking, where the vehicle’s kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and stored in a battery or capacitor. This stored energy can later power propulsion or auxiliary systems, reducing fuel use and brake wear. Similar concepts appear in rail transit and some hybrids, where energy is recovered during deceleration or during downhills.

Industrial applications also employ recuperation techniques to recover waste heat from furnaces, exhaust streams, or process lines. Recuperators, heat exchangers, economizers, and heat pumps may be used to transfer recovered energy to useful processes elsewhere in the plant.

Overall, rekuperation aims to increase energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and lower environmental impact, though its benefits depend on system design, operating conditions, and cost considerations.