Heat pump with propane refrigeration circuit developed for industrial applications

Warmth pumps can’t solely be used effectively in residential buildings, but additionally in industrial processes with heating and cooling necessities. This conclusion was reached by a staff from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photo voltaic Power Techniques ISE as a part of the joint venture “ETA in Existing Facilities.”

The applying of a warmth pump with propane refrigeration circuit in an industrial cleansing machine led to appreciable financial savings in electrical energy and CO₂.

The analysis project centered on the event of a modular thermal administration module for an industrial element cleansing machine, for which the 2 venture companions Bavarian Middle for Utilized Power Analysis (ZAE Bayern) and the corporate MAFAC E. Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG have been accountable for.

As a part of the venture, researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have built-in an revolutionary refrigeration circuit into this module that makes use of the pure refrigerant propane.

“As the cleaning and drying processes of the machine are carried out at both low and high temperatures, it is an ideal application for a heat pump,” explains venture supervisor Clemens Dankwerth from Fraunhofer ISE.

The thermal administration module operates in standby and is coupled with an present cleansing machine through the method and management know-how to produce the machine with helpful warmth and chilly supplied by the warmth pump.

Beforehand, the warmth and chilly provide of the cleansing system was purely electrical. In the midst of the brand new utility, the 2 separate processes may very well be transferred into one course of.

The venture staff succeeded in optimally designing the warmth pump in order that 255 grams of propane within the refrigeration circuit was ample for operation. Which means that all the system (cleansing machine with thermal administration module) could be safely put in in rooms with a ground space of 16 sq. meters or extra.

A refrigerant-reduced cooling circuit had already been developed upfront as a part of the “LC150” venture. Right here, a venture staff from Fraunhofer ISE had developed a refrigerant circuit based mostly on propane that falls under the allowed most restrict of 150 grams of propane. Thus, the warmth pump could be operated independently of the protection necessities that apply to indoor warmth pump installations with flammable refrigerants.

Excessive power effectivity and price discount

Retrofitting the cleansing machine with the brand new modular purposeful assemblies for exterior warmth and chilly provision resulted in a considerably greater power effectivity. The most effective values are delivered by the warmth pump, which achieved a mixed heating and cooling efficiency of 5.6 in relation to the electrical power used.

The ability necessities for heating the method water (cleansing, rinsing) and for heating the circulate air for drying have been minimize by half, whereas the ability used for heating the contemporary water was diminished by as a lot as 80%.

By recirculating the exhaust air, over 10,000 liters of fresh water could be saved yearly, due to a brand new kind of condensation unit that effectively recools the method exhaust air, permitting the out there cooling from the warmth pump for use within the cleansing machine in keeping with the method.

In a two-shift operation with 5 manufacturing days per week and 48 manufacturing weeks per 12 months, the brand new thermal administration module results in value financial savings of round 4,800 euros per 12 months and CO₂ emission financial savings of round 12,600 kilograms per 12 months.

“The usage of heat pumps could make a major contribution to the decarbonization of industrial processes,” says Clemens Dankwerth. Their utility can also be promising in different processes that function in the same temperature vary (50°C–70°C), reminiscent of giant dishwashers in canteens.

Supplied by Fraunhofer Institute for Photo voltaic Power Techniques ISE