Investigation on a full-scale heat pipe heat exchanger in the ceramics industry for waste heat recovery

The ceramics industry is the second largest energy consuming sector in Europe. main used heat generated through burners using natural gas. area can be identified three stages, drying stage and firing stage, cooling stage. represents about 75% of total cost. roller hearth kiln technology considered to most cost-effective solution for ceramic tile manufacturing. separated into two sections, generates large amounts waste as exhaust composed a challenging flue gas recovery. recovery this an efficient way with no cross contamination has been achieved pipe exchanger (HPHE) system, which was designed, manufactured installed on presented paper. located next section stack managed recover up 100 kW at steady state without or excess fouling. return investment system evaluated 16 months saving £30,000 per year. This paper will present deep row by theoretical analysis exchanger. Computational Fluids Dynamics also investigate fluid dynamics within evaporator condenser section. Both investigations have then validated experimental investigation carried out full-scale industrial system. design approach highlight benefits type provide guideline novel exchangers.