Conceptual design and integration of a steam-generating unit into a hightemperature heat pump
Process heat accounts for a major share of total industrial energy demand. Various industrial sectors require temperatures between 100 °C and 200 °C, using steam as the main energy carrier. This demand is primarily met by fossil-fueled boilers, making it a key target for decarbonization. Recent research has focused on steamgenerating heat pumps (SGHPs) as a promising alternative for supplying industrial steam by utilizing lowtemperature waste heat. This study presents the conceptual design and integration of a steam generating unit into an existing 35 kW?? high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) test rig. Various options for steam generation using HTHPs were considered in a first step, distinguishing between direct steam generation at the heat pump condenser and indirect steam generation using a flash tank. Due to its higher efficiency, compactness and lower investment costs, the expansion of the existing HTHP is based on direct steam generation using a plate-andshell heat exchanger (PSHE). The study further describes the integration concept and the most important design parameters for the PSHE. Future work will include the mechanical commissioning and experimental characterization of the steam generation process, followed by the development of detailed simulation models for system upscaling and techno-economic analysis. The presented concept provides a practical approach for adapting existing HTHPs for steam supply and thus contributes to the wider implementation of SGHPs in industrial processes.