Industrial waste heat utilization in the European Union—An engineering-centric review

Abstract

Efficient utilization of waste heat from industrial processes can be a significant source of energy savings for production plants as well as the driver of sustainable operation and emissions abatement. Industrial waste heat usually is contained in liquid or gaseous outlet streams. Alt-hough the possible ways to utilize waste heat are discussed by a wide variety of papers, these either provide only a general overview of utilization options and opportunities or focus on a narrow range of industrial processes. The aim of the present paper is to discuss practical aspects of waste heat utilization in the European Union so that the reader gains perspective on (i) thermal classification of waste heat, (ii) liquid and gaseous waste streams and their temperatures typical for industrial use cases, (iii) technical, economic, physical, and environmental aspects barring full utilization of the contained heat, (iv) waste heat sources in various industries, and (v) standard-ized equipment and technologies applicable to industrial waste heat utilization, including their advantages, disadvantages and weak points.Efficient utilization of waste heat from industrial processes can be a significant source of energy savings for production plants as well as the driver of sustainable operation and emissions abatement. Industrial waste heat usually is contained in liquid or gaseous outlet streams. Alt-hough the possible ways to utilize waste heat are discussed by a wide variety of papers, these either provide only a general overview of utilization options and opportunities or focus on a narrow range of industrial processes. The aim of the present paper is to discuss practical aspects of waste heat utilization in the European Union so that the reader gains perspective on (i) thermal classification of waste heat, (ii) liquid and gaseous waste streams and their temperatures typical for industrial use cases, (iii) technical, economic, physical, and environmental aspects barring full utilization of the contained heat, (iv) waste heat sources in various industries, and (v) standard-ized equipment and technologies applicable to industrial waste heat utilization, including their advantages, disadvantages and weak points.