State of the art of heat pumps for heating above 150 °C

Abstract

In current aim to catch long-term energy and climate policies, the role of the heating sector cannot be overstated. Heating, accounting for 50% of final global energy consumption, stands as a huge target for transformation. In this context, heat pumps are emerging as a potential decarbonization tool that promises to significantly reduce emissions through the use of renewable or waste energy, as they can utilize waste heat to elevate temperature to higher levels more efficiently compared to any other existing technology. Despite their potential, heat pumps are currently only used to a limited extent for industrial high-temperature heating, which makes it necessary to investigate viable options for improving their effectiveness in this area. This paper offers an insightful exploration into the current state of the art in high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) with heat sink temperatures above 150 °C. Our primary focus centers on the examination of vapour-compression systems, examining factors such as heating capacity, efficiency, and environmental considerations. Additionally, we provide valuable recommendations and guidelines for the future exploitation of industrial HTHPs.