Our expertise

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Balance Group implements solutions which improve energy and production efficiency. Our assignments are mainly design or delivery of equipment which has something to do with fluid dynamics and heat and mass transfer. For instance heat recovery, process ventilation and heating / cooling are our competence areas. We have high quality tools and skills to ensure the good result in our design and deliveries.  The articles below include answers and facts for the typical questions and comments we meet on discussions with our customers.

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Fields of expertise

Air systems Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Heat recovery Measurements

Air systems

Air system is a set of the machinery to move air from on point to another. Air system consists of the needed devices to create and control volume flow and also to manipulate air to improve its quality / temperature etc. Dimensioning of the air system depends on the boundary conditions set by process or demanded air conditions.

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Temperature and humidity – importance for dryer’s heat recovery efficiency

It is a common rule that increased humidity level in dryer’s exhaust air flow improves heat recovery rate. Besides this there is a fact that increased temperature difference between hot and cold fluid flows increases heat transfer as Newton’s law of cooling defines. However, the scale of influence of these two factors is not so obvious for all designers. In this article is presented with an example the importance of these parameters.

How to control the exhaust air rate of the dryer?

To maintain the sufficient process conditions and to optimize the energy efficiency of the dryer section the exhaust air rate needs to be adjusted. By keeping the exhaust air rate...

How the functioning of machine room ventilation can be evaluated?

Well-working machine room ventilation guarantees sufficient working conditions for the operators and for the process. Non-working ventilation can easily affect on product quality and cause problems for the production facilities...

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical analysis to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the calculations required to simulate the interaction of liquids and gases with surfaces defined by boundary conditions. [Wikipedia]

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How to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze the function of machine room ventilation?

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an efficient tool to estimate flow fields and their interaction with heat and humidity sources. What to take into the consideration when modeling complete machine room ventilation system?

Heat recovery

Heat recovery is a process where waste heat from hot stream is transferred directly or indirectly to some colder temperature target which can be fluid or solid.

To be technically and economically profitable the recovered energy has to

Decrease primary energy consumption
Produce recovered energy with the competitive price level (considering CAPEX and OPEX) compared to the energy produced with the primary energy sources

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Temperature and humidity – importance for dryer’s heat recovery efficiency

It is a common rule that increased humidity level in dryer’s exhaust air flow improves heat recovery rate. Besides this there is a fact that increased temperature difference between hot and cold fluid flows increases heat transfer as Newton’s law of cooling defines. However, the scale of influence of these two factors is not so obvious for all designers. In this article is presented with an example the importance of these parameters.

How much increased water content in dryer section exhaust air will improve the heat recovery efficiency?

Exhaust air flow from the dryer section is normally adjusted by maintaining constant water content in air flow. In some situations, exhaust air flow needs to be decreased thus causing decrease for the heat recovery process. Decreased humidity level decreases energy efficiency by means of lower heat recovery rate and higher specific heat consumption of the drying process.

How much energy can be recovered from the dryer section exhaust air flow?

Essential part of energy efficient dryer section operation is a properly dimensioned heat recovery system. In green field projects the design of the heat recovery system is almost the standard, but in rebuild cases there is need for tailor-made design is needed to maximize the benefit of the heat recovery system.

Measurements

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How the functioning of machine room ventilation can be evaluated?

Well-working machine room ventilation guarantees sufficient working conditions for the operators and for the process. Non-working ventilation can easily affect on product quality and cause problems for the production facilities...