Redundant energy recovery for high-contamination recycling applications

With our new heat recovery solution HR-CS34, we are taking a decisive step toward more efficient and stable recycling processes.

The starting point was a real-world challenge: in a food-grade recycling plant, heavily contaminated return air repeatedly caused the heat exchanger to clog. The result was frequent cleaning, requiring shutdowns and generating costs of up to €20,000 per day.

Our objective was clear: a solution that allows cleaning without interrupting production.

Our solution: redundancy instead of downtime
With the HR-CS34, we developed a modular system in which three compact units operate in parallel. Each unit can be isolated and cleaned individually while the others remain in operation. This makes maintenance predictable – and eliminates full system shutdowns.

From a technical perspective, the system is based on a two-stage concept:

• Indirect heat recovery via a closed water circuit protects the process from contamination
• An additional cooling stage provides air cleaning and condensate separation

Proven in operation
The first system has been in operation since mid-2025 and confirms our expectations under real conditions: stable processes, high availability, and very positive customer feedback.

Our conclusion
With the HR-CS34, we demonstrate how energy efficiency and plant availability can be combined – even under demanding conditions in PET recycling.