Portable Experimental Apparatus For Demonstrating Heat Recovery Concepts

A portable wastewater heat recovery system experimental apparatus was designed, developed and constructed for an undergraduate mechanical engineering laboratory at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, USA. The purpose of the experimental apparatus is to demonstrate heat transfer principles and heat recovery concepts. In this article, the author presents an experimental set-up that will help the undergraduate mechanical engineering students in understanding basic heat transfer processes by utilising real life applications, such as a heat recovery system. This heat recovery system is a preheating unit for incoming cold water from residential and commercial (such as restaurants and hotels) hot water systems. It is designed to recover some of the heat of the wastewater flowing into the sewage system. This project was completed with the assistance of an Undergraduate Senior Project Grant from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).