MEASUR-Tools-Suite v1.0.11
The MEASUR Tools Suite is a collection of industrial efficiency calculations written in C++ and with bindings for compilation to WebAssembly.
Loading...
Searching...
No Matches
Modules | Files | Namespaces | Classes | Functions
Cascade Heat High-to-Low Calculator

Detailed Description

This calculator estimates the benefit of using waste heat from a high-temperature process to supply heat to a low-temperature process. The calculation uses flue gas properties, process firing rates, exhaust temperatures, available heat, and fuel cost. The method is based on standard industrial practice for process heat recovery.

The calculation follows a top-down approach:

  1. Total Energy Savings - Calculate total energy savings from cascading heat
  2. Hourly Energy Savings - Determine hourly energy savings based on supply and demand
  3. Equivalent Energy Supply - Calculate energy supplied to the low-temperature process
  4. Heat Exchanger Energy Rate - Compute energy transfer rate through the heat exchanger
  5. Primary Flue Gas Volume - Calculate flue gas volume from the high-temperature process
  6. Flue Gas Properties - Compute flue gas properties for both processes

Relevant formulas and symbol definitions are documented below.

Total Energy Savings


Total energy savings from cascading heat.

The total energy savings is calculated by multiplying the hourly energy savings by the effective operating hours.

\begin{equation}\label{eq:cascade-high-to-low-total-energy-savings} E_{savings} = E_{hourly} \cdot H_{eff}\end{equation}

Symbols
\(E_{savings}\)Total energy savings \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\year}]\)
\(E_{hourly}\)Hourly energy savings \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)
\(H_{eff}\)Effective operating hours \([\unit{ \hour\per\year}]\)

Hourly Energy Savings


Hourly energy savings from cascading heat.

The hourly energy savings is the minimum of the equivalent energy supply and the low-temperature process firing rate.

\begin{equation}\label{eq:cascade-high-to-low-hourly-energy-savings} E_{hourly} = \min(E_{supply}, F_{low})\end{equation}

Symbols
\(E_{hourly}\)Hourly energy savings \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)
\(E_{supply}\)Equivalent energy supply \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)
\(F_{low}\)Low-temperature process firing rate \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)

Equivalent Energy Supply


Equivalent energy supply to the low-temperature process.

The equivalent energy supply is calculated by dividing the heat exchanger energy rate by the available heat of the low-temperature process.

\begin{equation}\label{eq:cascade-high-to-low-eq-energy-supply} E_{supply} = \frac{Q_{hx}}{AH_{low}}\end{equation}

Symbols
\(E_{supply}\)Equivalent energy supply \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)
\(Q_{hx}\)Heat exchanger energy rate \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)
\(AH_{low}\)Available heat of low-temp process \([\unit{ \unitless}]\)

Heat Exchanger Energy Rate


Energy transfer rate through the heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger energy rate is calculated by multiplying the flue gas volume, specific heat, density, and temperature difference, then dividing by the conversion factor.

\begin{equation}\label{eq:cascade-high-to-low-hx-energy-rate} Q_{hx} = \frac{V_{flue} \cdot C_{p} \cdot \rho_{flue} \cdot \Delta T}{CF}\end{equation}

Symbols
\(Q_{hx}\)Heat exchanger energy rate \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)
\(V_{flue}\)Flue gas volume \([\unit{ \scf\per\hour}]\)
\(C_{p}\)Specific heat of flue gas \([\unit{ \btu\per\pound\degreeFahrenheit}]\)
\(\rho_{flue}\)Flue gas density \([\unit{ \pound\per\scf}]\)
\(\Delta T\)Temperature difference \([\unit{ \degreeFahrenheit}]\)
\(CF\)Conversion factor (e.g., 1,000,000 for MMBtu) \([\unit{ \unitless}]\)

Primary Flue Gas Volume


Flue gas volume from the high-temperature process.

The flue gas volume is calculated using the firing rate, stoichiometric air volume, excess air, and fuel heating value.

\begin{equation}\label{eq:cascade-high-to-low-flue-volume} V_{flue} = \frac{F_{high} \cdot SAV_{high} \cdot (1 + EA_{high}) \cdot CF}{HV_{fuel}} + \frac{F_{high} \cdot CF}{HV_{fuel}}\end{equation}

Symbols
\(V_{flue}\)Flue gas volume \([\unit{ \scf\per\hour}]\)
\(F_{high}\)High-temperature process firing rate \([\unit{ \MMBtu\per\hour}]\)
\(SAV_{high}\)Stoichiometric air volume \([\unit{ \scf\per\MMBtu}]\)
\(EA_{high}\)Excess air (fraction) \([\unit{ \unitless}]\)
\(CF\)Conversion factor (e.g., 1,000,000 for MMBtu) \([\unit{ \unitless}]\)
\(HV_{fuel}\)Fuel heating value \([\unit{ \btu\per\scf}]\)

Flue Gas Properties


Flue gas properties for both processes.

Flue gas properties such as stoichiometric air volume, excess air, available heat, specific heat, and density are calculated for both the high-temperature and low-temperature processes using standard methods.

Note
See Gas Flue Gas Material Calculator for details on property calculations.

Modules

 Total Energy Savings Formula
 Total energy savings from cascading heat.
 
 Hourly Energy Savings Formula
 Hourly energy savings from cascading heat.
 
 Equivalent Energy Supply Formula
 Equivalent energy supply to the low-temperature process.
 
 Heat Exchanger Energy Rate Formula
 Energy transfer rate through the heat exchanger.
 
 Primary Flue Gas Volume Formula
 Flue gas volume from the high-temperature process.
 
 Flue Gas Properties
 Flue gas properties for both processes.
 

Files

file  cascade_heat_high_to_low.h
 Functions to calculate energy savings from using exhaust gas (waste) of high temperature to supply heat to low temperature equipment.
 

Namespaces

namespace  cascade_heat_high_to_low
 Cascade heat recovery calculations for process heating systems.
 

Classes

struct  cascade_heat_high_to_low::CascadeHeatHighToLowResults
 Results of the cascade heat high-to-low calculation. More...
 

Functions

CascadeHeatHighToLowResults cascade_heat_high_to_low::calculateCascadeHeatHighToLow (const gas_composition::GasComposition &gas_compositions, double fuel_hv, double fuel_cost, double pri_firing_rate, double pri_exhaust_temp, double pri_exhaust_o2, double pri_comb_air_temp, double pri_op_hours, double sec_firing_rate, double sec_exhaust_temp, double sec_exhaust_o2, double sec_comb_air_temp, double sec_op_hours, double fuel_temp_f=60, double ambient_air_temp_f=60, double comb_air_moisture_perc=0)
 Calculates the energy and cost savings from cascading heat from a high-temperature to a low-temperature process.
 

Function Documentation

◆ calculateCascadeHeatHighToLow()

CascadeHeatHighToLowResults cascade_heat_high_to_low::calculateCascadeHeatHighToLow ( const gas_composition::GasComposition gas_compositions,
double  fuel_hv,
double  fuel_cost,
double  pri_firing_rate,
double  pri_exhaust_temp,
double  pri_exhaust_o2,
double  pri_comb_air_temp,
double  pri_op_hours,
double  sec_firing_rate,
double  sec_exhaust_temp,
double  sec_exhaust_o2,
double  sec_comb_air_temp,
double  sec_op_hours,
double  fuel_temp_f = 60,
double  ambient_air_temp_f = 60,
double  comb_air_moisture_perc = 0 
)

Uses flue gas properties and process parameters to estimate the benefit of using waste heat from a primary (high-temp) process to supply heat to a secondary (low-temp) process.

Parameters
[in]gas_compositionsFuel gas composition for flue gas calculations.
[in]fuel_hvFuel heating value \([\unit{Btu/SCF}]\)
[in]fuel_costFuel cost \([\unit{USD/MMBtu}]\)
[in]pri_firing_ratePrimary process firing rate \([\unit{MMBtu/hr}]\)
[in]pri_exhaust_tempPrimary process exhaust temperature \([\unit{\degreeFahrenheit}]\)
[in]pri_exhaust_o2Primary process exhaust O2 (fraction)
[in]pri_comb_air_tempPrimary process combustion air temperature \([\unit{\degreeFahrenheit}]\)
[in]pri_op_hoursPrimary process operating hours \([\unit{hr/yr}]\)
[in]sec_firing_rateSecondary process firing rate \([\unit{MMBtu/hr}]\)
[in]sec_exhaust_tempSecondary process exhaust temperature \([\unit{\degreeFahrenheit}]\)
[in]sec_exhaust_o2Secondary process exhaust O2 (fraction)
[in]sec_comb_air_tempSecondary process combustion air temperature \([\unit{\degreeFahrenheit}]\)
[in]sec_op_hoursSecondary process operating hours \([\unit{hr/yr}]\)
[in]fuel_temp_fFuel temperature \([\unit{\degreeFahrenheit}]\) (default: 60)
[in]ambient_air_temp_fAmbient air temperature \([\unit{\degreeFahrenheit}]\) (default: 60)
[in]comb_air_moisture_percCombustion air moisture percent (default: 0)
Returns
CascadeHeatHighToLowResults struct with all calculated outputs.