Plate heat exchangers for waste heat recovery in the cement kiln industry

The cement industry is a high energy consuming industry, and cement kilns generate a large amount of waste heat during the production process. According to statistics, the waste heat from cement kilns accounts for 30% to 60% of the total energy consumption in cement production. Recycling and utilizing this waste heat can help save energy and reduce emissions, and promote the sustainable development of the cement industry. Among numerous waste heat recovery equipment, our plate heat exchanger has been widely used due to its efficient heat transfer performance.

Plate heat exchangers for waste heat recovery in the cement kiln industry

Product Structure
A plate heat exchanger is composed of a series of metal plates with certain corrugated shapes stacked together, forming narrow and winding channels between the plates. The edges of adjacent plates are sealed with sealing gaskets to ensure that the medium does not leak. Suitable materials can be selected based on the characteristics of different media and working temperatures. ​

Technical principles
Plate heat exchangers are based on the principle of wall to wall heat transfer, where two fluids of different temperatures flow on both sides of the plate and transfer heat through the plate. Usually, the counterflow heat transfer method is used, where two fluids flow in opposite directions inside the heat exchanger. This heat exchange method maintains a large temperature difference between the hot and cold fluids throughout the entire heat exchange process, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency and maximizing the recovery of waste heat. Compared with traditional shell and tube heat exchangers, the heat transfer coefficient of plate heat exchangers can be increased by 3-5 times.

Waste heat recovery plan
The high-temperature exhaust gas discharged from the cement kiln first enters the waste heat collection device and is transported to the plate heat exchanger through pipelines. In order to prevent dust in the exhaust gas from causing wear and blockage of the heat exchanger, dust removal equipment is usually installed before entering the heat exchanger. In the plate heat exchanger, high-temperature exhaust gas exchanges heat with low-temperature water or other heat media. After absorbing heat from exhaust gas, the temperature of the heat medium increases, which can be used to produce hot water, steam, or provide thermal energy for other processes. After heat exchange, the temperature of the exhaust gas decreases and meets the emission standards before being discharged into the atmosphere. ​

The Utilization of Industrial Air to Air Heat Exchanger in Drying Process

The utilization of industrial air-to-air heat exchangers in the drying process primarily lies in their efficient heat transfer and energy recovery capabilities. An air-to-air heat exchanger transfers heat from high-temperature exhaust gases to the low-temperature fresh air entering the system, achieving heat energy reuse. This enhances the energy efficiency of the drying process and reduces energy costs.

Specific Applications and Advantages:

  1. Energy Recovery: During the drying process, moisture from the material evaporates and is discharged with high-temperature humid air. The air-to-air heat exchanger recovers heat from this exhaust gas to preheat the cold air entering the drying system, reducing the energy required for additional heating.
  2. Improved Efficiency: By preheating the intake air, the drying system reaches operating temperature more quickly, shortening drying time and increasing production efficiency.
  3. Reduced Operating Costs: Recovering waste heat lowers fuel or electricity consumption, offering significant economic benefits, especially in industrial drying scenarios requiring sustained high temperatures (e.g., drying wood, food, or chemical raw materials).
  4. Environmental Benefits: Reducing energy waste and exhaust emissions aligns with the demands of modern green industrial production.

Working Principle:

Air-to-air heat exchangers typically use plate structure. High-temperature exhaust gas and low-temperature intake air flow through separate channels within the exchanger, with heat transferred via conductive materials. Since the two airstreams do not directly mix, cross-contamination of moisture or pollutants is avoided, making it highly suitable for drying systems where exhaust gas has high humidity.

Practical Examples:

  • Food Drying: In grain or fruit and vegetable drying, the heat exchanger can recover heat from discharged high-temperature humid air (around 60-80°C) to preheat fresh air to 40-50°C, reducing the load on the heater.
  • Industrial Drying Kilns: In applications like ceramic or wood drying, where exhaust temperatures may exceed 100°C, the use of a heat exchanger can significantly lower energy consumption.

Considerations:

  • Design Matching: The size and material of the heat exchanger must be customized based on the airflow, temperature range, and humidity conditions of the drying system.
  • Maintenance Needs: Moisture or dust may cause fouling on the exchanger surfaces, requiring regular cleaning to maintain heat transfer efficiency.

Drying tower heat recovery heat exchanger

The drying tower heat recovery heat exchanger is mainly used in the drying process of industries such as chemical, food, and pharmaceutical. Its purpose is to recover the heat from the drying exhaust gas, improve energy utilization efficiency, and reduce production costs.
Chemical industry: In the production process of chemical products, many processes require drying of materials, such as plastic pellets, rubber products, fertilizers, etc. The heat recovery heat exchanger of the drying tower can be installed in the exhaust emission system of the drying tower to recover the heat in the exhaust gas, which is used to preheat the air or materials entering the drying tower, thereby improving the drying efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Food industry: In the process of food processing, such as grain drying, fruit drying, milk powder production, etc., the heat recovery heat exchanger in the drying tower can recover and utilize the heat in the drying exhaust gas, which not only saves energy but also reduces thermal pollution to the environment. Meanwhile, the recovered heat can be used for other processes in the food processing, such as preheating raw materials and sterilization.
Pharmaceutical industry: In drug production, high drying requirements are placed on drug raw materials and intermediates. The drying tower heat recovery heat exchanger can recover heat from the drying exhaust while ensuring drug quality, reducing energy consumption during the drying process and improving production efficiency.
Our drying tower heat recovery heat exchanger usually adopts a counter current plate heat exchanger, using hydrophilic aluminum foil material with good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. We will also optimize the design scheme of the heat exchanger for you, further improving the heat recovery efficiency and reducing operating costs.

Hydrophilic aluminum foil heat exchanger for offshore wind power

At present, most offshore wind farms use heat exchangers that not only meet basic heat dissipation needs, but also suffer from certain energy waste. The selection of some heat exchangers is too large, resulting in low fluid flow rate, decreased heat transfer efficiency, and increased pump power consumption during low load operation. Due to the complex and ever-changing marine environment, heat exchangers are susceptible to corrosion, scaling, and other issues, further reducing heat transfer performance and increasing energy consumption. ​

Hydrophilic aluminum foil heat exchanger for offshore wind power
Energy saving scheme design, optimizing heat exchanger selection
We will use advanced heat load calculation software to accurately calculate the required heat transfer based on the heating power of wind turbines under different operating conditions, combined with environmental conditions such as seawater temperature, air humidity, etc., to ensure that the selection of heat exchangers matches actual needs and avoid selecting too large or too small. Select a plate type with high heat transfer coefficient and low flow resistance based on the heat dissipation characteristics of offshore wind power. Improve heat exchange efficiency while reducing pump power consumption. Using hydrophilic aluminum foil, a new material with corrosion resistance, high strength, and good thermal conductivity, to manufacture plates can not only extend the service life of heat exchangers, reduce downtime and energy waste caused by corrosion and maintenance, but also improve heat transfer efficiency to a certain extent.

Cooling principle of heat exchangers in computer rooms and data centers

Data centers face dual challenges of soaring chip power density and carbon neutrality targets. Our hydrophilic aluminum foil heat exchanger, as a new generation of energy-saving and heat dissipation core equipment, has become a key technological path for the low-carbon transformation of the industry by leveraging the collaborative innovation of aluminum based high thermal conductivity and microporous hydrophilic structure to reconstruct the thermal management efficiency of data centers.

Principle of indirect evaporative cooling of energy-saving heat exchangers in computer rooms and data centers
Technical principles
Indirect evaporative cooling process: Indirect evaporative cooling technology utilizes the principle of water evaporation absorbing heat to achieve cooling. Hydrophilic aluminum foil is a type of aluminum foil with a specially treated surface that exhibits excellent hydrophilicity. In the radiator, hydrophilic aluminum foil is used to enhance the heat exchange effect. It can evenly spread water on its surface, forming a thin water film, increasing the contact area between water and air, thereby improving evaporation efficiency. Meanwhile, hydrophilic aluminum foil can effectively prevent the adhesion of scale and dirt, maintaining the stability of the radiator performance.
Heat exchange process: After evaporative cooling, the cold air exchanges heat with the hot air in the computer room through a heat exchanger, cooling the hot air in the computer room and achieving the goal of reducing the temperature of the computer room.
advantage
Efficient and energy-saving: Compared with traditional air conditioning cooling methods, indirect evaporative cooling radiators utilize the natural principle of evaporative cooling and do not require a large amount of electricity to compress the refrigerant, thus significantly reducing energy consumption. The use of indirect evaporative cooling technology in data centers can save a significant amount of energy costs.

The purpose, structure, and type of air-to-air heat exchange core

An air-to-air heat exchanger core is the central component of an air-to-air heat exchanger system, designed to facilitate the transfer of heat between two separate air streams without mixing them. This technology is widely used in ventilation systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) applications, and energy recovery systems. Below, I’ll explain its purpose, structure, types, and benefits.

Purpose of the Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger Core

The primary function of the core is to transfer thermal energy (heat) from one airstream to another, improving energy efficiency and maintaining indoor air quality. For example:

  • In winter, it transfers heat from warm exhaust air (indoor) to cold incoming fresh air (outdoor), preheating the fresh air.
  • In summer, it can cool incoming hot air by transferring heat to the cooler exhaust air. This process reduces the energy required for heating or cooling while ensuring proper ventilation.

Structure of the Core

The core is typically made up of a series of thin plates, channels, or tubes arranged to maximize heat transfer while keeping the two airstreams physically separated. Key features include:

  • Heat Transfer Surface: Made from materials like aluminum, plastic, or specialized polymers with high thermal conductivity.
  • Flow Configuration: The airstreams can flow in counterflow (opposite directions), crossflow (perpendicular directions), or parallel flow (same direction), with counterflow being the most efficient.
  • Sealing: Ensures no mixing of the two airstreams, preventing contamination (e.g., exhaust air mixing with fresh air).

Types of Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger Cores

  1. Plate Heat Exchanger Core:
    • Consists of stacked plates creating alternating channels for the two airstreams.
    • Compact, efficient, and commonly used in residential and commercial HVAC systems.
    • Best for sensible heat transfer (temperature only).
  2. Heat Pipe Core:
    • Uses sealed tubes filled with a refrigerant that evaporates and condenses to transfer heat.
    • Suitable for applications requiring high efficiency over long distances.
  3. Rotary (Enthalpy) Wheel Core:
    • A rotating wheel coated with a desiccant material transfers both heat (sensible energy) and moisture (latent energy).
    • Ideal for humid climates or where humidity control is needed.
  4. Membrane-Based Core:
    • Uses semi-permeable membranes to transfer heat and moisture selectively.
    • Often found in energy recovery ventilators (ERVs).

Benefits

  • Energy Efficiency: Recovers up to 70-90% of the energy from exhaust air, reducing heating/cooling costs.
  • Improved Air Quality: Provides fresh air without sacrificing thermal comfort.
  • Versatility: Available in various sizes and configurations for residential, commercial, or industrial use.
  • Environmental Impact: Lowers energy consumption, supporting sustainable building designs.

Applications

  • Residential: Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) or heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) for homes.
  • Commercial: Large-scale HVAC systems in offices, malls, or hospitals.
  • Industrial: Process air management in factories or data centers.

In summary, the air-to-air heat exchanger core is a highly efficient and customizable solution for managing air temperature and energy use. Its design and material choices can be tailored to specific needs, making it a vital component in modern ventilation and climate control systems. If you have a specific type or application in mind, feel free to ask for more details!

Application of Plate Heat Exchanger in Industrial Ventilation Field

Plate heat exchangers are mainly used for air heat exchange in the industrial ventilation industry to achieve functions such as air preheating, cooling, or energy recovery in ventilation systems. The following are their solutions and technical principles:

Application of Plate Heat Exchanger in Industrial Ventilation Field
Solution
Air air heat exchange: In some industrial places, such as large factories and workshops, it is necessary to preheat or cool the fresh air in the ventilation system. Plate heat exchangers can exchange heat between the discharged hot or cold air and the incoming fresh air, allowing the fresh air to reach a certain temperature before entering the room, thereby saving energy and improving the comfort of the indoor environment.
Energy recovery: For some industrial processes that generate a large amount of waste heat, such as metallurgy, chemical industry, etc., plate heat exchangers can be used to recover heat energy from exhaust gas and transfer it to fresh air or other media that need to be heated in the ventilation system. For example, high-temperature exhaust gas is heat exchanged with air in the ventilation system through a plate heat exchanger, and the air is heated and used for heating or other process in the workshop.
Technical principles
Structure and heat transfer method: Plate heat exchangers are composed of a series of metal plates with corrugated shapes, forming narrow channels between the plates. Cold and hot fluids flow in adjacent channels. When hot and cold fluids pass through a plate, heat is transferred through the plate. Due to the large surface area and good thermal conductivity of the plate, efficient heat exchange can occur between the hot and cold fluids.

How to choose a suitable heat exchanger in the field of food drying

How to choose a suitable heat exchanger in the field of food drying

The rotary heat exchanger, with its advanced technical principles and carefully designed solutions, has brought a new and efficient, energy-saving, and high-quality drying experience to the field of food drying, and is becoming the best choice for many food production enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. ​​

Selection design: Based on the specific needs of food drying, such as the type of food to be dried, production scale, drying process requirements, etc., accurately select the appropriate specifications of rotary heat exchangers. For example, for large-scale bread drying production lines, it is necessary to use large rotary heat exchangers with high processing air volume and high heat exchange efficiency; For small nut drying enterprises, small and compact heat exchangers are more suitable. ​
System integration: Cleverly integrate the rotary heat exchanger into the food drying system. Reasonably arrange heat exchangers between the exhaust gas discharge outlet and the fresh air inlet of the drying equipment to ensure that the exhaust gas can flow smoothly through the hot side of the impeller and the fresh air flows through the cold side. At the same time, through an intelligent control system, the speed of the rotary wheel and the flow rates of hot and cold fluids are accurately adjusted to meet the needs of different drying stages, ensuring the stability and efficiency of the drying process.
Energy saving and efficiency improvement: By recovering the heat from exhaust gas, the energy consumption during the drying process can be significantly reduced, reducing the use of fuel or electricity, lowering production costs, while improving drying efficiency and increasing output. ​
Improving quality: Stable drying temperature and humidity control helps ensure even drying of food, avoiding excessive or insufficient drying, enhancing the quality and taste of food, and reducing the rate of defective products. ​
Environmental sustainability: While reducing energy consumption, it also reduces the impact of exhaust emissions on the environment, which is in line with the production concept of green environmental protection. ​

hepa full form in pharma

In the pharmaceutical industry, HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air.

HEPA filters are used in HVAC and AHU systems to remove airborne particles, dust, bacteria, and contaminants, ensuring a clean and sterile environment in pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleanrooms, and laboratories. These filters are essential for compliance with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and ISO cleanroom standards, helping prevent contamination in drug production and research facilities.

ahu full form in medical

In the medical field, AHU stands for Air Handling Unit.

An AHU is a key component of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, used in hospitals, laboratories, and healthcare facilities to ensure clean, filtered, and temperature-controlled air. It helps maintain air quality, infection control, and sterile environments, which are essential for operating rooms, ICUs, cleanrooms, and pharmaceutical production areas.

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