Industrial Heat Pump Whitepaper - pdf
The potential of the technology is:
- reduced energy demand
- utilisation of excess heat
- electrification of the energy source
- and not least, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
High-temperature heat pumps, or industrial heat pumps, are often referred to as heat pumps that can deliver thermal energy. Current heat pumps typically cannot deliver temperatures higher than 70°C - 80°C, while industry often requires process heat between 100°C and 200°C.
High-temperature heat pumps can be used for everything from heating hot water to upgrading excess heat for use in other processes. Integrating high-temperature heat pumps into existing production processes is a major challenge that requires the energy source and energy demand to match.
Steam-generating heat pumps and mechanical vapor recompression (MVR)
High-temperature heat pumps can be used to produce high-pressure steam (industrial steam), which is the preferred heat carrier in industry. Industrial steam is used for everything from drying various products such as food, paper and textiles, sterilising milk and dairy products, and as a heat carrier in almost all industries where high temperatures are required.
Steam produced by heat pumps is more environmentally friendly than conventional oil/gas-produced steam, because the amount of energy required per kilogram of steam is often more than halved. Natural refrigerants, particularly water and butane, are well suited for use in high-temperature heat pumps.
Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) does not generate new steam like a steam-generating heat pump, but instead recompresses vapour from a process. This process can be steam drying, where high-temperature steam is used to dry, for example, food or textiles. The temperature in the drying chamber is always above 100°C so that the steam does not condense. The high-temperature steam then heats the wet product and draws out the water in the product in the form of vapour, while a dried product leaves the system.
MVR can be used by compressing the vapour, i.e. the amount of vapour from the product, to a higher pressure. The high-pressure vapour is then condensed in a heat exchanger, against cold vapour that has been used in the drying chamber. The condensation energy in vapour is so high that the amount of vapour condensed can be much smaller than the vapour to be heated. The heated vapour can then be reused to dry new products. Using MVR in both drying and evaporation can achieve up to 50% energy reduction.
We work within these areas:
- System integration and evaluation of different solutions
- Development of compressors and heat exchanger design
- Efficient energy use through high-temperature heat pumps
- Combined heating and cooling
- Turbocompressors
- Steam-generating heat pumps
Typical assignments for us are:
- Mapping energy-saving solutions in different processes using high-temperature heat pump/MVR solutions
- Simulation, sizing, planning and implementation of high-temperature heat pump/MVR solutions
- Developing new solutions for high-temperature heat pump/MVR solutions
The methods we use:
- Testing of components and systems in the SINTEF Energy lab and HighEFF lab
- Modelling of key figures for a high-temperature heat pump
- Measuring necessary parameters in the factory/process
- Simulation and modelling
Why choose SINTEF?
SINTEF is a world leader in high-temperature heat pumps, particularly within natural refrigerants such as water and hydrocarbons. SINTEF has helped develop a cascade heat pump that can deliver both cooling and heating, which also has one of the highest temperature lifts in the world. Within vapour compression, SINTEF has extensive experience from national and international collaboration with other research institutes and companies.
Who do we do this for?
Norwegian and international industry aiming to reduce their CO2 footprint, while also safeguarding HSE and efficiency.