Electrification & heat recovery

Industrial heat: choosing the right combination

We start with your heat and steam requirements, useful temperatures, load profiles and available resources. The aim is to develop a coherent pathway combining energy efficiency, recovered heat, electricity and renewable energy.

Feasibility studies & integration

Comparing scenarios to choose the right pathway

Our feasibility studies combine mass and energy balances, pinch analysis and Sympheny, software for modelling and optimising energy systems. This tool helps us compare production and storage combinations, their sizing and operation using consumption profiles, available resources and site constraints.

We assess investment, operating costs and CO₂ emissions across scenarios to select the most suitable solution. Within the agreed scope, Navitech then supports specifications, detailed engineering, construction coordination and commissioning through engineering services, EPCM or turnkey EPC delivery.

Heat-recovery exchanger and insulated pipework on a cogeneration unit in Schwedt.

Heat recovery & pinch analysis

Identifying sources and useful applications

We map the site’s hot and cold streams, their temperatures, flow rates and heating or cooling requirements. Pinch analysis compares these streams to identify heat recovery opportunities and determine minimum thermal utility requirements.

This method helps define useful heat exchanges, prioritise investment and integrate heat exchangers, heat pumps or thermal storage. We then check fouling, corrosion, fluid separation and maintenance constraints.

Electric steam boiler and its power cabinet, with no visible manufacturer branding.

Electric boilers and supplementary heating

Producing steam or hot water with electricity

We assess electric boilers and supplementary heaters for continuous demand, peaks or backup. Sizing considers steam flow, required pressure, load variations and existing equipment.

The study checks available electrical capacity, connection conditions, electricity tariffs and operating strategy. We prepare interfaces with steam or hot water networks, controls and safety systems.

Industrial heat pumps

Matching temperature levels to applications

A heat pump can form part of a project to make use of heat available on site. We examine source temperature, process temperature requirements, flow rates and the timing of heat availability and consumption.

Solutions, including high-temperature systems, are compared against actual site requirements. The analysis covers heat exchangers, thermal loops, available space, operating conditions and integration with existing installations.

Heat pump in Ball State University’s ground-source system, with pipework and electrical equipment.

Mechanical vapour recompression

Assessing the reuse of steam flows

Mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) is one option assessed for reusing steam flows. We characterise flow rates, temperatures and pressures, together with the thermal demand that the steam must meet.

Feasibility depends on the process and its operating conditions. The study considers stream composition, production stability, electricity consumption and interfaces with retained equipment.

Skid-mounted industrial centrifugal compressor with pipework and auxiliaries; illustrative photograph.

Construction of the Oatly boiler plant in Landskrona, showing the structure and multi-fuel boiler.

Hybrid solutions

Coordinating base load, peaks and backup

Biomass, electricity and recovered heat can be combined in one installation. We compare their roles using load profiles, local resources, energy costs and production continuity requirements.

The design defines priorities between sources, potential storage requirements and plant operation. This approach can also support a phased transition that takes existing equipment into account.

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