During my travels, I often see many sources of energy being wasted. This can be in the form of building air conditioners or refrigeration units that vent heat to the atmosphere, or even the heat given off automobile engines. It's always made me think there must be a way to efficiently recapture at least part of that heat and turn it back into useful energy.
Apparently I am not alone in my thoughts. ElectraTherm, Inc., announced the first commercial installation of their new "Green Machine", an electrical generator that recaptures waste heat and turns it into electricity. The generator was recently installed at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. The beauty of this system is that, since it uses heat from other systems that is normally wasted, no additional energy is required to generate electricity, making it a truly "zero emissions" power source.
According to the company's news release, the 50 kW generator has "exceeded expectations". The key to the new generator's success is the company's patented Twin Screw Expander, which improves the efficiency and cost of the unit enough to be commercially viable, a solution thus far eluding other similar generators using the Organic Rankine Cycle.
Waste Heat as Energy
ElectroTherm Green Machine
Trend Themes
1. Waste Heat Recycling - Opportunity to efficiently recapture heat from various sources and convert it into electricity, reducing waste and emissions.
2. Zero Emission Power - Developing systems that generate electricity without any additional energy, using waste heat as the primary source.
3. Improved Efficiency in Energy Generation - Innovations like Twin Screw Expander technology that enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of heat-to-electricity generators.
Industry Implications
1. Renewable Energy - Waste heat recycling can revolutionize renewable energy generation by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and improving sustainability.
2. HVAC (heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) - Opportunity to design energy-efficient HVAC systems that recycle waste heat, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
3. Automotive - Exploring ways to capture and convert waste heat from automobile engines, potentially improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.