Utilization of Waste Heat of Engine’s Exhaust Gases for Domestic Heating Applications

Abstract:

Waste heat utilization is a critical aspect of enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability in various systems. This study investigates the recovery of waste heat using a heat exchanger installed at the outlet of a small-sized engine, demonstrating significant temperature control capabilities. The introduction of hot air from the heat exchanger effectively increased the ambient room temperature from 20 °C to 48 °C within 90 minutes. The heat exchanger's effectiveness improved with higher initial exhaust gas temperatures, as demonstrated across three test cases. In Case I, the room temperature rose to 33 °C with an initial exhaust temperature of 61 °C. Cases II and III showed further increases to 43 °C and 45.7 °C, respectively, corresponding to higher exhaust temperatures of 77 °C and 84 °C. A notable achievement was the consistent improvement in heat exchanger performance, evidenced by increased outlet temperatures and decreased exhaust temperatures, indicating efficient heat transfer. The effectiveness of the device improved from 0.31 to 0.55, highlighting its potential for energy-efficient ambient temperature regulation. However, the study also identified certain limitations. The temperature rise plateaued after 90 minutes, suggesting a limit to the heat exchanger’s capacity due to its size. Additionally, the minimal temperature difference between 60 and 90 minutes in Case III indicated that the engine had reached its peak efficiency, thereby limiting further heat recovery.

• Periodical: Diffusion Foundations and Materials Applications (Volume 39)
• Pages: 153-161
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-piW3tB
• Online since: January 2026
• Authors: Fahmee Maqsood Awan, Junaid Iqbal*, Muhammad Adil Qadeer, Irum Maqsood, Atif Shazad
• Keywords: Domestic Heating, Effectiveness, Exhaust Gases, Waste Heat

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