How a Plate Heat Exchanger Works
The setup is to save energy through a process called Chiller Heat Recovery (or Heat Reclaim). The idea is to use a Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) to capture waste heat from a building’s cooling system (the chiller) and reuse it to preheat hot water for things like showers or taps in hotels.
Essentially, it converts waste heat into free hot water.
1. Chiller Heat Rejection
Usually, a chiller cools the building by absorbing heat from the chilled water inside and then dumping that unwanted heat into the condenser water loop. This hot water usually goes to a cooling tower, where the heat is released into the air, basically wasted.
2. Heat Interception
In a heat recovery system, instead of discarding all the heat, we redirect some of the warm condenser water (which can be around 85°F to 110°F or higher) before it reaches the cooling tower.
3. Using the Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE)
The hot water flows through one side of the PHE. On the other hand, cold city water (which is for the building) flows through. The two water streams never mix, but heat easily passes between them through the metal plates inside the exchanger.
4. Heat Transfer
As the hot condenser water flows through, it transfers its heat to the cold water, raising its temperature (for example, from 60°F up to 90°F or more). The condenser water is slightly cooler, while the domestic water is somewhat warmer.
5. Boiler Boost
That preheated water then enters the boiler or water heater, which only needs to heat it the rest of the way, perhaps from 90°F to 140°F. Since the water is already warm, the boiler doesn’t have to work as hard or use as much energy.
Why This Is Great
* Energy Savings:
The system recovers heat that would otherwise be wasted, allowing both the cooling and hot water systems to operate more efficiently.
* Reduced Boiler Load:
Because the boiler is doing less heating, it uses less gas or electricity.
* “Free” Hot Water:
The chiller provides heat as a natural part of cooling the building, so you’re basically getting hot water at little to no extra cost.
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