Warmth pump with propane refrigeration circuit developed for industrial purposes – TechnoNews

Warmth pumps cannot solely be used effectively in residential buildings, but in addition in industrial processes with heating and cooling necessities. This conclusion was reached by a staff from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photo voltaic Vitality Techniques ISE as a part of the joint undertaking “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 undertaking centered on the event of a modular thermal administration module for an industrial part cleansing machine, for which the 2 undertaking companions Bavarian Middle for Utilized Vitality Analysis (ZAE Bayern) and the corporate MAFAC E. Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG have been answerable for.

As a part of the undertaking, researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have built-in an modern 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 undertaking supervisor Clemens Dankwerth from Fraunhofer ISE.

The thermal administration module operates in standby and is coupled with an current 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 middle of the brand new software, the 2 separate processes could possibly be transferred into one course of.

The undertaking staff succeeded in optimally designing the warmth pump in order that 255 grams of propane within the refrigeration circuit was enough for operation. Which means your complete system (cleansing machine with thermal administration module) may 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” undertaking. Right here, a undertaking staff from Fraunhofer ISE had developed a refrigerant circuit primarily based on propane that falls beneath the allowed most restrict of 150 grams of propane. Thus, the warmth pump may be operated independently of the protection necessities that apply to indoor warmth pump installations with flammable refrigerants.

Excessive power effectivity and value discount

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

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

By recirculating the exhaust air, over 10,000 liters of contemporary water may be saved yearly, because of 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 consistent with the method.

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

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

Offered by
Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE