CERAMIC HEAT MEDIA

Ceramic Honeycombs

as Heat Storage Media

for RTO, Ventilation, and Energy Storage.

Ceram Austria's ceramic heat media are used in regenerative thermal processes: in highly efficient RTOs, in decentralized residential ventilation, and in large-scale thermal energy storage systems. With thermal efficiency of up to 97%, they significantly reduce energy consumption.

HEAT STORAGE TECHNOLOGY

Optimized Materials and Honeycomb Geometry.
Superior Product Properties.

The decisive advantage of honeycomb bodies over conventional packed bed storage lies in optimal heat recovery efficiency at low pressure drop. A defined laminar gas flow prevents particle deposits and corrosion damage. Honeycomb bodies are simple and cost-effective to operate and maintain. They are a reliable and economical solution for Regenerative Thermal Oxidation (RTO) and other heat recovery processes.

Ceram Austria offers ceramic honeycomb bodies in various cell structures and materials. Standard versions have dimensions of (L × W × H) 150 × 150 × 300 mm and 150 × 150 × 150 mm ('half brick'). Custom dimensions can be supplied in high volumes upon request.

As a further application area, ceramic heat storage is used for decentralized residential ventilation (Regenerative Home Ventilation), where compact round designs (Ø 90–145 mm) enable efficient heat recovery in comfort ventilation systems.

PERFORMANCE FEATURES

Up to 97% thermal efficiency: Structured honeycomb geometry enables optimal heat recovery at low pressure drop.
HEX-Cell Technology: The hexagonal cell structure offers 15% more channels, 72% more active heat exchange points, and 10–15% less gas consumption compared to square cells.
High material diversity: Five specialized ceramic materials cover standard, high-temperature, corrosive, and thermal shock conditions.
100% Made in Austria: Development, raw material processing, and production take place exclusively at the Frauental site.

APPLICATION AREAS

The Right Product for Every Thermal Process.

Ceram Austria supplies ceramic heat storage for three main application areas, each with specifically optimized geometry and material combination.

RTO SYSTEMS

Ceramic honeycombs are used as heat storage media in RTO regenerator chambers. The hot clean gas transfers its heat to the honeycomb bed, which then preheats the incoming raw gas when the flow direction is reversed (every 60–240 s). The oxidation temperature is typically between 800 and 900°C.

REGENERATIVE RESIDENTIAL VENTILATION

Round honeycomb bodies (Ø 90–145 mm) are used in decentralized comfort ventilation systems. The standard dimension is Ø 145 × 150 mm. Square and hexagonal cell structures are available in different geometries. Since the ceramic bodies do not absorb water, bacterial growth is prevented even in continuous operation.

THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE

For this application, ceramic honeycombs serve as heat storage for large-scale thermal energy storage. Heat media must meet a broad range of requirements under often challenging conditions. Ceram Austria has developed five specialized ceramic materials for standard to extreme applications.

MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY

The Right Material for Every Operating Condition.

Heat storage media must meet a broad range of requirements under often challenging conditions. Ceram Austria has developed five specialized ceramic materials — for standard to extreme applications.

Product Code	NT	LA	HT	MK	CR
Material	High-Alumina Porcelain	Alumina Porcelain	Mullite Ceramic	Cordierite Ceramic	Stabilized Mullite
Properties	Dense, highest heat storage capacity, chemically resistant, particularly acid-resistant	Dense, high heat storage capacity, chemically resistant	High-temperature resistant	High thermal shock resistance	Chemically resistant, particularly alkali-resistant
Applications	Standard applications and acidic conditions; ideally suited for residential ventilation and thermal energy storag	Standard applications	Very high oxidation temperatures (1,100°C < T_ox < 1,500°C)	High thermal load & gradients (e.g., top layers or shallow beds)	Chemically aggressive raw gas components, particularly alkaline attack (e.g., wood-based panel industry)

HIGHLY AUTOMATED VOLUME PRODUCTION IN EUROPE

From Raw Material Processing to Series Production.

Every honeycomb body from Ceram Austria undergoes a precisely controlled production process from raw material processing to quality release. All honeycomb bodies are manufactured at our site in Frauental, Austria.

01 Raw Material Processing Raw materials are weighed, milled, and mixed according to a defined recipe. The mass is then filter-pressed to adjust its moisture content.

02 Extrusion Vacuum extruders form the mass into the honeycomb structure. Each element is continuously numbered and all process parameters are logged.

03 Drying The green bodies are dried in drying chambers to the defined moisture content.

04 Cutting The green bodies are cut to the required product dimensions, taking into account the shrinkage during the subsequent firing.

05 Sintering The elements are fired in a chamber kiln or shuttle kiln at approx. 1,300°C. The green body becomes the finished ceramic with the specified properties.

06 Palletizing & Shipping The finished products are automatically sorted according to agreed quality criteria and packed on pallets.

CONTACT

Your System, Your Requirements —

Let's talk about it.

Share your operating parameters with us: raw gas flow rate, inlet and oxidation temperature, maximum pressure drop, and VOC composition. Our experts will design the optimal honeycomb bed for your system.

Contact Experts