Analysis of waste heat recovery exchanger efficiency in furnaces utilizing ammonia, hydrogen, and dimethyl ether

Abstract The comparison of low-temperature waste heat recovery exchangers’ performances in glass tank furnaces fueled by ammonia, hydrogen, and dimethyl ether (DME) was conducted. A 1 t/h glass tank furnace was used, with each fuel combusted in air, and a waste heat exchanger installed to capture heat from the low-temperature flue gas for preheating the combustion air. The evaluation criteria included net present value (NPV) to assess economic feasibility. The results indicated that DME combustion yielded the highest NPV. Ammonia combustion demonstrated moderate economic performance, whereas hydrogen combustion resulted in the lowest NPV due to higher fuel costs and lower heat recovery efficiency. Considering economic viability, DME exhibited the best overall performance, while hydrogen and ammonia provided carbon-free alternatives with varying economic trade-offs.