Heat Recovery Systems for Compressors

Heat recovery systems for air compressors play an important role in industrial processes by reducing energy costs and increasing efficiency. An air compressor is an essential machine that generates compressed air for a wide range of applications in various industries such as manufacturing, construction, mining, and so on. Compressed air production consumes large amounts of energy, and a significant portion of this energy is lost as waste heat. This is where heat recovery systems come in.

How do heat recovery systems work?

Heat recovery systems for air compressors work by capturing the waste heat generated during the compression process and using it for other purposes, such as space heating or heated water systems. For example, Mobile Compressed Air has installed an oil-to-glycol heat exchanger to provide factory air conditioning for a well-known biscuit manufacturer using heat waste from their compressed air system. This is then run through a remote glycol-to-air heat exchange, providing a sustainable and energy-efficient method to regulate their environment. 

What are the benefits of heat recovery systems?

The waste heat rejected through the cooling system of the compressor is simply returned to the atmosphere if not captured and used effectively. By recovering this heat, a heat recovery system can reclaim approximately 96% of the energy costs to operating an air compressor. This reduction in energy consumption not only saves money on energy bills but also reduces the carbon footprint of the facility whilst helping protect the environment.

Another benefit of heat recovery systems is increased efficiency. By capturing and reusing waste heat, the heat recovery system will reduce the load on the cooling system of the air compressor, thus improving its overall efficiency. This, in turn, can extend the life of the compressor and reduce maintenance costs. Additionally, heat recovery systems can improve the overall compressed air quality by reducing the operating temperatures and humidity levels.

Types of heat recovery systems for air compressors

There are several types of heat recovery systems for air compressors, including air-to-air, air-to-water, and air-to-refrigerant heat recovery systems. Heat recovery systems can be integrated into new or existing air compressor systems, and they are available in a variety of sizes and configurations to meet the specific needs of each application.

Air-to-air heat recovery systems are the most basic and typically use a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the compressed air to incoming air, which can be used for space heating. Air-to-water heat recovery systems use a heat exchanger to transfer heat to a hot water system, which can be used for various heating applications. Air-to-refrigerant heat recovery systems transfer heat to a refrigerant, which can be used for air conditioning or refrigeration applications.

In conclusion, heat recovery systems for air compressors play an important role in reducing energy costs, increasing efficiency, and improving the overall environmental impact of industrial processes. By capturing and reusing waste heat, heat recovery systems provide businesses with the opportunity to reduce their energy consumption, extend the life of their air compressors, and generate additional revenue. If you're looking to reduce your energy costs and improve the efficiency of your air compressor, a heat recovery system may be the solution you're looking for. Contact us today for more information.