The award highlights outstanding contributions to the advancement of international collaboration in research, policy and market development and applications for energy-efficient heat pumping technologies that result in environmental benefits. It is awarded every three years in conjunction with the International IEA Heat Pump Conference. Mr. Stephan Renz, Chair of the Executive Committee of Technology the Collaboration Programme of Heat Pumping Technologies (HPT TCP) by IEA, presented the awardees:
“It is my great pleasure to recognize these dignified nominees and honour them with the most prestigious prize in the field of heat pumping technologies”, said Mr. Stephan Renz during the ceremony. Our award winners are undoubtedly some of the most influential individuals in the history of IEA HPT TCP.”
Laudation speeches were held for all the awardees by members of the Rittinger Award Selection Committee – by Jussi Hirvonen for Per Fahlén, by Minsung Kim for Jeffrey D. Spitler, by Sophie Hosatte for Rainer Jakobs and by Stephan Renz for Min Soo Kim.
Prof. Emirit. Per Fahlén, Chalmers University of Technology has been a very important contributor to the development of heat pumps and their introduction on the Swedish market. He has always been keen to include industrial partners and has had more than 40 companies sponsoring projects on national and international level. He designed and built state-of-the art laboratories for HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) teaching and research and the first test lab to be accredited for heat pump testing in Europe. Per Fahlén has published 40 reviewed journal or conference papers, 110 books or reports and miscellaneous articles. He has been a member of national and international standardization for measurement technology, heat exchangers, heat pumps etc, a member of IVA (Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences) and a member of ASHRAE, IIR, refrigeration technology associations, energy and environmental technology associations.
Prof. Jeffrey D. Spitler is Regents Professor and OG&E Energy Technology Chair in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University. His primary contributions are in the area of ground source heat pump systems. His publications are in the top 1% in his field for citation rates. He has published över 130 technical publications on ground-source heat pump systems, including 57 journal papers, 70 conference papers and magazine articles, three book chapters and three journal editorials. Among other things he has developed a widely used design software (GLHEPRO) for ground heat exchangers and equipment and analysis methodology for in situ measurement of ground thermal properties using thermal response tests (TRT). He has developed simulation models and design methods. He currently serves as an ex officio member of the IGSHPA (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) board of directors in an advisory role.
Dr. Rainer Jakobs of Informationszentrum Wärmepumpen und Kältetechnik has made outstanding contributions for the advancement in research, applications, standardization and dissemination of heat pumping technologies since the beginning of the 1980´s. He has worked for different companies on managing level in the field of heat pumps, refrigeration, white goods. Since 2004 he is managing director of the IZW e.V. (Informationszentrum Wärmepumpen und Kältetechnik- Information Centre Heat Pumps and Refrigeration). Dr. Jakobs is also active at national and international level in DKV (German Society of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning), IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on Heat Pumping Technologies) and Chillventa (International trade fair on refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pump technology in Nuremberg, Germany).
Prof. Min Soo Kim received his Ph.D. at Seoul National University majored in Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1991 and became a faculty member in 1994. During his past period, he investigated diverse technologies of thermal engineering and HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). During his carrier, Prof. Kim investigated the technologies of heat pumps, refrigeration systems, and other related HVAC research. He conducted more than 120 projects with major companies like LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, and Hyundai Motors, with the topics of heat pump systems, thermal management of electric vehicles, and fuel cell research. From this technical elaboration, he published 248 international journal papers and 480 conference papers and has 48 national and 8 international patents so far. He has organized many international conferences. Especially, he served as a conference NOC Chair of the 13th IEA Heat Pump Conference, and made the conference to be a successful on-offline hybrid event under COVID-19 pandemic situation.
About the Peter Ritter von Rittinger International Heat Pump Award
The Rittinger award is named after Peter Ritter von Rittinger, the Austrian engineer who designed and installed the first known heat pump in 1855. The award celebrates the technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit of Rittinger that is shared by the award winners.