A Comparative Economic Evaluation of Industrial Heat Pumps

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a study on the cost of delivering process heat with state-of-the-art heat pump systems. Sixteen heat pump systems were configured for relative cost comparisons. These systems consisted of electrically driven, prime energy driven, and waste energy driven reverse Rankine cycle heat pumps of the open, semiopen and closed type. In addition, a waste energy driven absorption heat pump was analyzed. A conceptual design of each system was created using off-the-shelf components generally available to engineering firms. The performance of each system was assessed, the major components sized, and the installed cost determined. Maintenance costs were estimated. Finally, the relative cost of energy delivered by each system was estimated, and the cost of delivery heat with state-of-the-art heat pumps was determined.