We evaluated two complementary technologies: a removable heat exchanger placed on top of the coils, and a water-cooled radiative panel that absorbs heat emitted during coil transfer to the yard. First-principle simulations allowed us to estimate the energy recovery potential of both solutions and to develop a preliminary design for the heat transfer devices.

From there, we refined the design further using topology optimization, aiming to reduce pressure drop on the cooling-water side of both components. This brought pumping power down by more than 25 percent compared to the baseline design, meaningfully improving the overall efficiency of the system.
This work was recently presented, and awarded, at #ECOS2026 — the 39th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems in Constanța, Romania — a strong step towards turning high-temperature industrial heat losses into a genuinely usable energy resource.