Publication
Replacing fossil fuels with alternative energy sources for steam production in industry can help fulfill the targets towards a more sustainable energy landscape. In this work, a high-temperature heat pump and a gas-bearing supported turbocompressor are combined in one system to reduce CO2 emissions for process steam production. The heat pump is designed to generate saturated steam at up to 120 degrees C by using waste heat of 50 to 100 degrees C as a heat source. It is based on commercial components and uses R600 (n-butane) as a working fluid. The steam from the heat pump is further compressed to a saturation temperature of 150 degrees C with an oil-free turbocompressor. This system configuration offers an efficient technological implementation to provide process steam. Based on simulations, an overall COP of 1.9 is predicted for the generation of steam at 150 degrees C by using waste heat at 50 degrees C.