Smokestack Heat Seen as Possible Fuel Source

Written by Ariel Schwartz
Published on August 22nd, 2008
2 Comments
Posted in Alternative Fuels

smokestack

Last month, scientists announced the discovery of a new technology to efficiently turn heat waste from cars, power generators, and heat pumps into electricity. But why stop there?

GMZ Energy, a company formed by researchers from Boston College and MIT, has developed a manufacturing process to improve the efficiency of existing thermoelectric modules.

Instead of using their technology with cars, the company plans to sell thermoelectric modules for cooling in small refrigerators and server racks. Ultimately, GMZ Energy wants to convert waste from smokestack heat and industrial equipment into electricity.

But GMZ still has a long way to go . Prototype models are currently at 7% efficiency, and while this is 30%-40% better for cooling than existing devices, it is not yet at the viability point of 10%.

Additionally, systems to convert smokestack heat into electricity have been around for at least 4 years, and we still haven’t seen anything close to widespread implementation of the technology. Clearly, heat waste recovery has a long way to go.

We can, however, look forward to more organizations getting in on the heat waste act. Bosch is interested in creating a home-heating unit to make electricity from exhaust heat, and other companies will no doubt follow.

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2 Responses to “Smokestack Heat Seen as Possible Fuel Source”

  1. Sock Yee Says:
    August 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 am

    Whatever alternative energy source available, we shouldn’t just waste it. I’m sure if every organization play their part, the world would be a lot more different with less pollution.

  2. Ardoreal Says:
    August 23rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    Many plants employ regenerative air heaters. I think the concept should be taken to cars, and in some cases it sort of is.

    For diesel engines used in public transport the exhaust gas recirc valve is used during winter months to heat incoming air into the engine to burn fuel more efficiently.

    In most power plants today these huge air heaters are used. They have these massive rotating glass panes that sort of look like revolving doors. They are sealed compartmentally with the airflow however. In one compartment as it rotates these huge glass panes are heated by the boiler exhaust and can get as warm as 500 degrees. In the next compartment the cool incoming air for the furnaces hit the glass and cool the glass down. The end result is that the exhaust air gets cool from around 500 degrees to half its temperature at around 250. Not always perfect, but it usually maintains. It gets a lot colder in winter months. The incoming air exchanges all that heat and goes into the furnace and they figure they burn about %35 less coal because of the regenerative heat exchanges.

    The concept should be applied everywhere really. Cars, trucks, even the furnace of your house. ESPECIALLY the furnace of a house!!! That would save people $$$ man!

    *sigh*

    Anyhow it’s been around a lot longer than 4 years. I’d say at the place I work those were installed on startup. The plant is about 30 years old now.