Waste heat recovery plant works with most air compressors 19 August 2010

Compressed air specialist ABAC has developed a system that it says can be used to recover waste from virtually any compressed air systems.

Called Alup Energy Box, it converts the heat generated by most air compressors into hot water up to 70ºC for industrial processes, as well as domestic applications, replacing the energy normally used to fuel boilers or heaters.

Nick Poole, ABAC UK's director, explains that Energy Box is an easy to install packaged system that can be fitted to any make of oil injected rotary screw compressor up to 90 kW.

The system, which recovers energy from the oil circuit via a heat exchanger, can be installed quickly and at a lower cost than previously available comparable systems, he says.

He estimates that, for a small 37kW compressor, for example, energy available for recovery is up to 29.9kW, which may equate to annual heating costs of over £6,000 – based on 4,000 operating hours.

"The energy used in the generation of compressed air represents a significant proportion of the total energy used by most of modern industry," comments Poole.

"Energy Box's appeal is that, once installed, the recovered energy is obtained completely free, as a by-product of routine air compressor operation. And, of course, it allows us to both reduce carbon emissions and lower operational costs at the same time."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
ABAC (UK) Ltd

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