Process Heat Recovery
Process heat recovery captures waste heat from industrial processes and reuses it for space heating, water heating, or process preheating.
Industrial processes such as drying, curing, melting, and combustion generate large amounts of waste heat. Heat recovery systems capture that energy and put it to productive use, reducing the need for new fuel combustion or electric heating.
Common applications include recovering exhaust heat for boiler feedwater preheating, using compressor waste heat for facility heating, and preheating combustion air. Paybacks range from three to seven years depending on heat source, temperature, and use.
Process heat recovery reduces Scope 1 emissions from fuel combustion and Scope 2 emissions from electric heating. Accurate carbon accounting requires metering recovered energy and tracking how much primary energy it displaces.
Frequently asked questions
What is process heat recovery? +
Process heat recovery captures waste heat from industrial processes and reuses it for space heating, water heating, or preheating process inputs.
What are typical paybacks for heat recovery? +
Paybacks typically range from three to seven years depending on the temperature of the waste heat, the application, and how often the process runs.
Related terms
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency means using less energy to deliver the same service or output. In the context of carbon management, energy efficiency is the fastest, lowest-cost decarbonization lever because every unit of energy saved reduces both operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously.
Compressed Air System Optimization
Compressed air system optimization reduces energy waste in industrial compressed air systems through leak repair, pressure management, and efficient controls.
Scope 1 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources that an organization owns or controls. This includes combustion of fossil fuels in owned boilers, furnaces, and vehicles; process emissions from manufacturing; and fugitive emissions such as refrigerant leaks and methane from owned landfills.
Scope 2 Emissions
Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling consumed by an organization. They are called 'indirect' because the emissions physically occur at the power plant or utility, not at the reporting company's facilities.