What is an economizer?

An economizer is a specialized heat exchanger that plays a crucial role in improving the overall efficiency of a heating system by reclaiming waste heat from exhaust gases. Essentially, it captures heat that would otherwise be lost and uses it to preheat water before it enters a boiler or heating system, which reduces the amount of fuel needed to achieve the desired temperature. This process not only enhances energy efficiency but can also lead to significant cost savings in fuel consumption.

In contrast, other options refer to components that serve different functions. Valves control the flow of fluids like steam rather than recapturing heat. A pressure regulator’s main job is to maintain a specified pressure within the system and does not deal with heat recovery. Components used for fuel delivery are focused on transporting the fuel itself without any heat exchange function. Thus, the role of an economizer specifically revolves around heat recovery, making it integral to energy-efficient designs in stationary engineering.