HPT Magazine no 1/2023: Industrial Heat Pumps - Opportunities to Unlock their Full Potential

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Industrial Heat Pumps - Opportunities to Unlock Their Full Potential

According to the IEA's World Energy Outlook - The Future of Heat Pumps, decarbonization of industrial heat through electrification is key to tackling the climate crisis, and there is considerable potential for electric heat pumps to provide process heat for industry. The comprehensive and interdisciplinary efforts needed from the various stakeholders to unlock the full potential of industrial heat pumps have been inferred in the foreword of this issue.

Under the title " High-temperature heat pumps are on the rise – Why is their market uptake slow?" the column addresses how to create the framework conditions for implementing industrial heat pumps, including (i) creating guidelines and training qualified personnel, and (ii) support fast implementation to avoid investments into less optimal energy solutions that block industrial heat pump adoption in future years.
In the HPT news in focus section, you can read a summary of the IEA report on Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 report. An excerpt from a joint workshop organized by IEA and the European Commission (EC) on ‘Support to REPowerEU: affordable, secure and sustainable energy for Europe, and a summary of the European Heat Pump Market.

The topical articles of this issue provide a strategic focus on the challenges and opportunities of industrial Heat Pumps, and the topics covered include (i) Opportunities for high-temperature heat pumps as grid flexibility providers, (ii) Conceptualization of wet and dry steam compression with liquid water injection for high-temperature heat pumps (iii) Developing a high-temperature heat pump technology concept using natural refrigerants and (iv) Storing Electricity with Industrial Heat Pumps.

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Market Report: Heat Pumps in the United States - Market Potentials, Challenges and Opportunities

This article discusses the heat pump market in the US, including its growth since 2010, policies and programs, and the challenges and opportunities that exist. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global economy, including the heat pump market, but the US heat pump market has experienced steady growth.

Heat pumps surpassed gas furnace shipments in 2020, and the trend has continued in 2022. The heat pump market share is expected to grow as policies and financial incentives steer the building sector towards decarbonization. The US has set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonize the power sector, and achieve a net-zero emissions economy.

Topical Article: Opportunities for High-Temperature Heat Pumps as Grid Flexibility Providers

This article discusses the potential benefits and research gaps in deploying high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) in the industry, which could unlock the electrification of thermal processes, achieve high efficiencies, and recover waste heat sources up to 200°C. Integrating these technologies with thermal energy storage and Demand Side Management (DSM) strategies could unleash a flexibility potential deriving from the industrial sector electrification, leading to significant benefits for both industrial actors and grid operators.

The study also explores the system-level analysis and the need for a more in-depth modelling of industrial processes to quantify the real impact of HTHP integration on the grid, and shows how industrial heat pumps can contribute to the grid’s frequency containment reserve and stability. Three categories of DSM strategies are identified to enhance the flexibility of industrial thermal loads, including process rescheduling, thermal inertia exploitation, and thermal buffers.

Topical Article: Conceptualization of Wet and Dry Steam Compression with Liquid Water Injection for High-Temperature Heat Pumps - A Thermodynamic Approach

This article discusses the thermodynamic approach to use water as a refrigerant in high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) to provide thermal energy at about 200°C, which is essential for decarbonizing the industrial sector through electrification.

Water, also known as R718, is a good option due to its unique properties, such as high critical temperature, large heat of vaporization, and low cost. However, during the compression process, the discharge temperature of dry steam can reach a very high temperature of about 280-548°C for 15.6 bar discharge pressure, making it difficult to desuperheat the steam while keeping the same discharge pressure. Therefore, the researchers propose liquid injection as an effective desuperheating method to bring the steam to the saturated state at compressor discharge.

Topical Article: Developing a High-Temperature Heat Pump
Technology Concept Using Natural Refrigerants

This article discusses the potential of using natural refrigerants in high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) to cover a wide range of industrial applications at temperature levels up to 200°C. HTHPs are key to the electrification and decarbonization of industrial process heat supply, contributing to the achievement of climate targets while being economically competitive.

To achieve adequate performance, there must be a good match between the temperature profiles of the process heat demands and the heat pump technology. Therefore, a portfolio of multiple future-proof technologies is needed to cover a broad range of applications.

Topical Article: Storing Electricity with Industrial Heat Pumps - Carnot Batteries for Grid-Level Energy Storage

This article discusses the need for efficient electricity storage systems to mitigate environmental impacts, especially in the context of the electrification of energy-intensive processes.

Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) is the predominant grid-scale electricity storage technology, but alternative electricity storage solutions must be investigated and brought to market to fully exploit the electrification potential.

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