What is it about?
Factories—especially ones that make things like clothes—give off a lot of extra heat during the manufacturing process. Usually, this heat just escapes into the air and goes to waste. But there's a way to capture and reuse it, using something called an Absorption Heat Transformer (or AHT for short). By putting that leftover heat to good use, factories can: Use less fuel, which saves energy and money. Release fewer harmful gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), which contribute to climate change. Run more efficiently by looping that heat back into their systems instead of letting it disappear. It’s a smarter, greener way to keep things running.
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Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Imagine a clever machine called an Absorption Heat Transformer (AHT) that grabs the warm air or water wasted in factories—like those making clothes in Mexico—and turns it into hot, reusable energy for tasks like dyeing or drying fabrics. It works best when its core part, the absorber, hits 100–150°C, the waste heat is around 80–90°C, and its cooling system stays at 25–30°C. Researchers tested two special liquid mixes inside the AHT, finding that one, called Carrol-water, outperforms the other (lithium bromide-water) by creating hotter, more useful heat. In Mexico’s textile industry, these machines can be set up in five states, recycling heat for nearly every step of the cloth-making process, from washing to finishing.
Perspectives
If you’re a factory owner, think about adding AHTs in areas where a lot of heat is generated—like during dyeing or drying—since that’s where they can make the biggest impact. Engineers can help you explore options, such as using a Carroll-water mix to boost performance. For policymakers, there’s a real opportunity to back programs that make AHTs more affordable, especially in textile-heavy regions like Mexico. And suppose you’re a researcher or student. In that case, there’s plenty to explore—whether it’s finding new ways to use AHTs in other industries or experimenting with better fluid mixtures to improve their efficiency.
Professor Rosenberg J Romero
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Energy and environmental study for the textile industry based on absorption heat transformer, Energy Sources Part A Recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects, May 2023, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/15567036.2023.2208544.
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