Heat recovery from shower wastewater

Heat recovery from shower wastewater with the aid of a BUCO falling film chiller

The BUCO falling film chiller is an unbeatable alternative in heat recovery. Heating oil and gas consumption can be reduced by 50 % by installing the falling film chiller to heat the shower water. High performance due to the high heat transfer coefficients (up to 2000 W/m² K). Easy to clean thanks to smooth stainless steel surfaces, a possibility of cleaning during operation without loss of performance. Made entirely of stainless steel, the dimensions can be adapted to the respective space conditions on site in terms of length, width and height.

The starting position

In public swimming pools, large amounts of hot water are used for showers and at the same time the same amount of hot wastewater is produced. This wastewater is extremely polluted by soap, hair, etc.

What has been done so far?

In the past, hot shower wastewater was mostly discharged into the public sewer system. At the same time, expensive heating oil or gas 15 was burned to heat the same amount of water.

Why use a falling film chiller now?

The waste water produced has a temperature of between 25 and 30 °C. The cold fresh water with a temperature of 10 - 12 °C is pumped into a falling film chiller and, depending on the design and size, heated to 20 - 28 °C by warm water flowing down the outside of the heat exchange plates. The Buco falling film chiller is made entirely of stainless steel (AISI 316 Ti) and offers few points of attack for contamination due to its smooth surface. Periodic cleaning is very easy. The wall thicknesses of the heat exchanger plates are designed according to the water pressures. If required, corrosion enhancement up to a wall thickness of 3 mm is possible.

Conclusion

Heating oil and gas consumption can be reduced by 50 % by installing the BUCO heat exchanger system to heat the shower water. Amortisation in the shortest possible time is guaranteed.

We have always assimilated engineering science and thermodynamics optimally in the various manufacturing processes.

Thermodynamicists,mechanical engineers and welding engineers define the dimensioning, design and construction of customised heat exchanger panels and systems in materials ranging from mild and austenitic steels through to titanium, and ensure successful distribution of their work worldwide.

In doing so they fall back on production engineering expertise and calculations developed in the course of the past hundred years that are still being continuously optimised in an ongoing process.

In the perception of our customers, the Buco product stands for:

Technical and process-oriented consulting
Thermodynamic efficiency
Quality and longevity