Defining “Waste Heat” for industrial processes

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 134 - 142
• Main Authors: Bendig, Matthias, Maréchal, François, Favrat, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analogies; Applied sciences; Energy; Energy efficiency; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Exergy; Heat recovery; Heat transfer; Pinch-Analysis; Process Integration; Secondary heat; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Waste heat; Pinch-Analysis; Secondary heat; Energy efficiency; Exergy; Waste heat; Process Integration; Heat recovery; Energy conservation; Energetic efficiency; Secondary sector; Energy savings
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.03.020

This paper aims at presenting a method for identifying, characterising and quantifying the available waste heat of an industrial system that can be converted into a useful form. A distinction is made between avoidable and unavoidable waste heat. This distinction is especially important when it comes to deciding on an investment for the integration of a waste heat valorisation process. In the proposed methodology, process integration techniques and exergy analysis are used to measure the useful potential of waste heat. It results in a definition of waste heat as a resource and a reserve in analogy to the definitions of natural resources and reserves. •Definitions for waste heat are analysed.•Process Integration, Pinch-Analysis and exergy analysis are combined.•A new definition for waste heat is proposed.