An assessment was conducted to evaluate the waste heat content and energy recovery potential of flue gases from 30 industrial combustion devices. Pollution controls on nine of the devices were evaluated to estimate energy requirements and particulate reduction; energy requirements were compared with incremental emissions at electric utilities supplying power for the pollution controls. Metal processing furnaces had the highest waste heat content in the exhaust gas (57%-86% of fuel heat input). The remaining devices and waste heat content range were: Internal Combustion Engines (21 and 38%), Mineral Kilns (11-55%), Petroleum Process Heaters (14-38%), Boilers (10-41%), and Gas Turbine Combined Cycles (15 and 16%). Energy recovery by combustion air preheat, process heat utilization, or heat engine cycles was evaluated on a preliminary basis and appears to be practical for many of the devices. Energy requirements for particulate emissions control were found to be less than 2.0 percent of heat input.

"August 1985." Prepared at KVB, Inc., for the Environmental Protection Agency. "EPA/600/7-85/033." Includes bibliographical references (page 54). Microfiche.