Effective Transfer of Waste Heat Recovery Technology: A Case Study of GTE Products Corporation's Experience

Abstract

GTE Products Corporation recently completed a cost sharing technology acceleration program with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Industrial Programs (Contract No. DE-FC01-80CS40330). The cost shared program called for the installation of 175 ceramic recuperators on 38 different furnace that operate with clean exhaust between 1600 F and 2500 F. The engineering team approach utilized by GTE for the system design, installation, and start-up-shakedown support is considered the major reason for the reported success of the GTE program. Savings attributable to recuperation averaged 38% based on energy audits by Battelle Columbus Laboratories. Battelle was contracted to monitor the furnaces before and after the retrofit by the D.O.E. and condense report and compare the data in terms of specific energy consumption vs. product throughout. Economic analysis shows that payback periods generally range from 1 - 2.5 years.