Recoverable Heat for Air Conditioning & Humidity Control

Refrigeration/freezing refers to a direct process end use in which energy is used to lower the temperature of substances or air. Conventional equipment includes chillers and absorption cooling equipment.

Absorption cooling systems require a source of heat. For an ammonia-water cooling system, the heat is required to separate the water and ammonia. In conventional absorption systems, this heat is supplied by steam heat exchangers, an electrical heater or a gas-fired heater. For CHP systems, this heat can be supplied by using a heat exchanger where clean exhaust gases from a turbine or other type of prime mover are used as a heat source. The heating gases may have to be mixed with air or other gases to maintain the desired heating gas temperature. Such a system will reduce or eliminate heat input for the overall system.

This type of heat recovery for cooling is shown below.

Other technologies for hot heat recovery can be found in our CHP Applications Guide.