The petrochemical industry is improving energy efficiency and cutting down on harmful emissions thanks to waste heat recovery (WHR) tech. During processes like cracking and refining, joules of heat get tossed away, wasting potential energy, but WHR innovations capture lost heat and put it to good use like generating steam or heat in other places in the process.
solution 1
Mixed Component Heat Pump Configuration
This novel heat pump configuration uses a mixed-component heat pump fluid with internal cascading. It enables heat transfer from one or more lower temperature heat sources to one or more high temperature heat sinks.
This technology can easily be adapted for any number of heat sources and heat sinks while using only one heat pump compressor and was validated through simulation-based case studies involving industrial distillation processes. Results showed reduced pressure ratios and lower compressor costs compared to conventional systems.
solution 2
Electrical Heat Exchanger Apparatus and Reaction Technology
This E-HEART mechanism dynamically modulates reactor temperature in processes involving variable feedstock and power delivery conditions, efficiently conducting thermal processing for reactants and hydrocarbons. It handles variations in feed conditions and power delivery without compromising product quality or reaction temperature.
The technology exhibited superior performance for variable process conditions compared to conventional units. Results demonstrated its ability to efficiently handle diverse operating conditions by independently controlling heating elements.
solution 3
Process Heat Co-production with Heat Pump Assisted Distillation
Heat pumps are pivotal technologies for decarbonization. However, a major drawback to traditional pumps is energy rejection that occurs at the condenser’s cooling water.
This heat pump distillation system enables the coproduction of steam to repurpose waste heat. By recovering energy used to power the condenser as heat to the reboiler through steam production, the overall energy efficiency of the heat pump can be increased. The technology has applications in various industries that use distillation columns including chemical processing, fermentation, and water purification.
Industry partners interested in developing or commercializing the innovations should contact Jacob Brejcha, Licensing Associate – Physical Science, jjbrejcha@prf.org.
About the researcher: Rakesh Agrawal is the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University. He has created and validated heat sources that are more sustainable and reliable than other methods like biomass fuel sources, electrification, and microgrid-powered modular plants.
