Rendering system energy recovery

1. A rendering apparatus, comprising:

a rendering zone disposed between a rendering material deposition head and a substrate;

a processing module to process the rendering material;

a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the processing module to air to be re-distributed to the rendering zone;

a distribution system for re-distributing heated air to the rendering zone;

a valve located between the heat exchanger and the rendering zone;

a temperature sensor located in the rendering zone to detect a temperature in the rendering zone; and

a control module to adjust a temperature of the rendering zone by controlling an aperture of the valve using a feedback signal received from the temperature sensor.

2. A rendering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing module is a pre- or post-processing module, the control module to adjust a temperature of the processing module.

3. A rendering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rendering zone comprises a rendering material deposition head, to selectively deposit the rendering material on the substrate.

4. A rendering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rendering zone comprises a substrate support device to support the substrate.

5. A rendering apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating element to selectively supply heat to the heated air.

6. A rendering apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the heating element is located in a duct of the distribution system.

7. A rendering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution system comprises a duct and a fan.

8. A rendering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution system comprises a manifold of fans located in the rendering zone.

9. A rendering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises three ports, wherein a first port is associated to the processing module, a second port is fluidly communicated to the rendering zone, and a third port is fluidly communicated to an air release duct thereby allowing excess heat to be released from the distribution system.

10. A rendering apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the air release duct is open to ambient air.

11. A rendering apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the air release duct is fluidly connected to an air-cooling mechanism.

12. A rendering apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the valve is connected to an air supply.

13. A method, comprising:

heating air using a heat exchanger coupled to an exhaust of a processing module of a rendering device, to generate heated air;

providing a distribution system for re-distributing heated air to a rendering zone;

detecting a temperature using a temperature sensor located in the rendering zone; and

adjusting a temperature of the rendering zone using a feedback signal received from the temperature sensor to operate a valve located between the heat exchanger and the rendering zone.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising operating a heating element to selectively supply heat to the heated air.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to, in a rendering apparatus:

adjust a temperature of a rendering zone using heated air generated using a heat exchanger coupled to an exhaust of a curing module using a feedback signal received from a temperature sensor located in the rendering zone; and

operate a by-pass valve located between the heat exchanger and the rendering zone to release excess heat before it is re-distributed to the rendering zone.