Air Compressor Heat Recovery: What You Need to Know

Compressed air is an important component of many industries, functioning as an energy source that is used to power pneumatic machinery.

With air compressors being so popularly used, it’s important to understand the ways that heat generated from air compressors can be reused. In this article, we will be focusing on different industrial waste heat recovery technologies that you may or may not know about, that will help you to reduce electricity costs and CO2 emissions.

How to reduce energy waste

We have many shared aims at Maziak, one of them being to help companies minimise their energy costs through as many means as possible. When it comes to optimising the performance of air compressors, we would recommend the following:

  • Variable Speed Drive Compressor – can reduce energy consumption by up to 60%
  • Eliminate air leaks- this will reduce the period of time for which the air compressor will need to run
  • Optimise system pressure – running at the lowest pressure while making sure the equipment still meets your needs

Another way in which a lot of energy gets wasted is that a lot of heat is generated during the operation of air compressors. This heat dissipates to prevent to both prevent the air compressor from overheating and making sure it is cool enough to function properly.

Whilst it is important for the air compressor to function properly, when we take into account that approximately 90% of electrical energy that a compressor uses is converted into compression heat, the amount of waste is of a significant amount. This is where a waste energy recovery system enters the picture.

Air-Cooled Vs Water-Cooled

The way in which waste is minimised depends on whether you are working with an air-cooled or water-cooled compressor.

Air-cooled air compressors make the process of heat recovery quite simple. Features such as cooling fins are built into the compressor to increase the surface area available for heat transfer. This means that heat is efficiently transferred and more readily available to heat up spaces such as a production hall, and the risk of the compressor overheating is greatly reduced.

Water-cooled compressors are a bit more complex in the way that they function. Since water has a high specific heat capacity, it is much more effective at absorbing heat compared to air. The heated water gets circulated through cooling jackets or coils around the components of the compressor that generate the most heat so that it can be absorbed and removed.

What can recovered heat be used for?

We’ve already spoken about how hot air from an air-cooled compressor can be used for the heating up of large spaces, but it is worth knowing that hot water from a water-cooled compressor has a range of uses too. From cleaning and sterilisation, to being part of production processes for the food & beverage and textiles industry. The heated water can even be fed into boiler systems, which means reducing the energy required to achieve the desired temperature.

If you would like to talk to us about the air compressors that we have available as part of our range and find out more the best heat recovery solutions for you get in touch with us today at enquiries@maziak.co.uk or on 01933 222 000 and we will be happy to help.

For more information, please call 01933 222000 or email us at enquiries@maziak.co.uk

Air Compressor Heat Recovery: What You Need to Know