Thermal energy reduction in sanitary-ware industry by heat-recovering thermal engineering technologies

Ceramic industry manufacturing requires a great amount of thermal energy. Its sustainability and environmental impact demand an effort to develop more efficient technologies to reduce the consumption of fuel, mainly natural gas. In particular, the sanitary-ware production sector presents a defined special map of consumption through the manufacturing process because of the heat amounts and thermal levels of temperature. The aim of this research is to quantify the potential reduction of fuel consumption within a standard factory of sanitary-ware articles. The scope of it covers the main gas consumers, namely, kilns, dryers, heating units, or boilers. The method is based in a simulation of the process by modeling the thermophysics of the consumers, then plotting the heat recovery from one to another in order to save natural gas input. The research shows how the thermal requirement would be cut by almost a half within the factory consumption. It is consequently concluded that efficiency, environmental impact, and sustainability of this industrial sector would be improved, so as the global economy related with a potential growth of this industry, mainly in developing countries.

Automated summary

This research aims to reduce fuel consumption in a sanitary-ware factory by simulating the heat flow in the manufacturing process and implementing heat recovery to cut thermal requirement by nearly half. The study improves efficiency, environmental impact, and sustainability in the industrial sector, while also fostering growth in the ceramics industry in developing countries.