Future Prospects for Industrial Heat Pumps in Europe

Other conference contribution, 1987

The future prospects for industrial heat pumps in Europe are discussed in terms of possible applications, types of heat pumps to use, present situation, economic aspects, and other aspects, such as environmental ones. It is shown that there is a large technical potential especially in the higher range of condensing temperatures, 120-160 DC. The technico-economic comparisons have shown that there is also an economic one, which, however, is much dependent on the future electric and fuel prices. These will also influence the types of heat pumps to use. Environmental aspects will also play an important role. The need for future R,D&D work includes development of better high-temperature heat pumps and system aspects, such as process integration studies to identify interesting applications.