Energy recovery: performance of a heating and ventilation installation in a wood-working facility

Using systems for collecting hazardous substances at source is very often the only solution that makes it possible to preserve the health of workers exposed to such substances. The air extracted in that way needs to be replaced by ventilation systems that consume large amounts of energy, in particular because of the need to heat up the new air taken in during the winter months. However, the resulting extra costs may be offset by installing energy recovery units. Various technologies are available today, including the technology constituted by plate heat exchangers. A heating and ventilation installation combining a wood-fired boiler and plate recovery units was assessed in a wood-working facility, and that assessment showed that plate heat exchangers do not constitute a wise investment choice for that particular situation; conversely, the woodfired boiler enables annual savings assessed at in the range €6,000 to €10,000 to be made, and a return on investment of in the range 5 to 8 years to be achieved.