Present and Future Uses of Industrial Absorption Heat Pumps

Abstract

This paper examines the present and projects the future uses of industrial absorption heat pumping. AHP technology is seen as an increasingly important component of plant and process heat integration for energy conservation. Existing installations have proven the capabilities of absorption heat pumps (AHP) for industrial energy conservation. Although currently limited to temperatures below approximately 350 F, nevertheless a variety of uses have been demonstrated. These include about 1/3 of the distillation columns in the U.S. chemical processing industry. Two case studies are presented. In the future, AHPs will be found to be the most economical heat pumping option in most cases. Also, increased process heat integration will help target appropriate plant locations for AHPs,' and near-term high temperature AHPs will have the ability to deliver steam at pressures up to 650 psig and to reboil tower fluids at temperatures above 500 F.