Did you know that what we commonly refer to as “waste” can be a valuable heat source? In fact, waste-to-heat is a growing industry and one that has the potential to make a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So what is waste-to-heat, and how does it work?
Climate change is a genuine and pressing issue. Fossil fuels are impacting the atmosphere and our immediate environment every day. The need to take action is becoming more pressing than ever. One way to combat climate change is by using waste to generate heat, ultimately creating the energy to power necessary activities. Waste can be turned into a valuable resource, which should be exploited to the fullest.
Waste to heat is the process of using waste heat – heat that would otherwise be wasted – to generate power or to do other practical work. Heat sources can be found in abundance across industrial processes, power plants, and vehicle engines. Heat is generated as a byproduct of different processes, such as combustion gasses, heated water from machinery, heated products from industrial systems, and heat transfer from hot equipment. This heat usually goes to waste. But it can be converted into electricity, used to heat buildings or water, or employed in other ways. It increases the efficiency of energy systems and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Utilizing waste heat is an integral part of a low-carbon future. This underutilized resource can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and help combat climate change.
Waste To Heat Technologies and Systems:
Waste-to-heat technologies can be used to recover waste heat from a variety of sources, including industrial processes, power plants, and vehicle engines. These systems are typically designed to recover waste heat at temperatures above 300°F (149°C).
The efficiency of a waste to heat system depends on the temperature of the waste heat source and the end use of the recovered energy. For example, a system that generates electricity from waste heat will have a lower efficiency than a system that uses waste heat to produce steam for industrial processes.
One way to convert waste heat into electricity is through thermoelectric generators. These devices generate electricity from the heat by using the Seebeck Effect. The heat creates a temperature difference between two conductors, generating an electric current.
Another way to convert waste heat into electricity is through absorption refrigerators. These devices use heat to drive a chemical reaction that produces cold. The cold can then be used to cool food or other materials.
Waste heat can also be used to power fuel cells. In a fuel cell, heat creates an electrochemical reaction that produces electricity. Fuel cells are often used in spacecraft and other applications where weight and space are limited. At MMG Engineering, we use waste-to-heat systems and technologies that meet international requirements and have experts who help see the process from the beginning to the end of the installation.
For a metropolitan city with countless factories and plants, waste to heat energy in Karachi will be revolutionary. It will reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and expenses a great deal while helping the environment, which is crucial to our current unhealthy air quality.