Warmth pump with propane refrigeration circuit developed for industrial functions – Uplaza

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

The appliance 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 challenge centered on the event of a modular thermal administration module for an industrial element cleansing machine, for which the 2 challenge companions Bavarian Heart for Utilized Vitality Analysis (ZAE Bayern) and the corporate MAFAC E. Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG had been accountable for.

As a part of the challenge, researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have built-in an progressive 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 challenge 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 expertise 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 software, the 2 separate processes might be transferred into one course of.

The challenge workforce succeeded in optimally designing the warmth pump in order that 255 grams of propane within the refrigeration circuit was ample for operation. Because of this your entire system (cleansing machine with thermal administration module) will 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” challenge. Right here, a challenge workforce from Fraunhofer ISE had developed a refrigerant circuit primarily based on propane that falls under the allowed most restrict of 150 grams of propane. Thus, the warmth pump will be operated independently of the security necessities that apply to indoor warmth pump installations with flammable refrigerants.

Excessive vitality 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 vitality 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 circulate air for drying had been lower by half, whereas the ability used for heating the recent water was decreased by as a lot as 80%.

By recirculating the exhaust air, over 10,000 liters of recent water will be saved yearly, because of a brand new sort 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 analogous temperature vary (50°C–70°C), resembling giant dishwashers in canteens.

Supplied by
Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE