Demonstration of a steam producing high-temperature heat pump in the sugar industry
Steam-producing heat pumps is a key technology for decarbonizing the food industry. This paper focuses on the development, integration, and testing of such a steam-producing heat pump which is being demonstrated as part of the Horizon Europe project “SPIRIT". The heat pump has a single screw compressor and is based on Pentane (R-601) as a working fluid. It is installed in a sugar factory, where it utilizes low-grade waste steam from the sugar evaporation process to deliver process steam at approximately 140 °C with a thermal output up to 4 MW. Recent results from the demonstration test period, and practical experiences with the integration of the heat pump into the existing factory processes, will be presented. Hence, this paper highlights the potential for enhancing energy efficiency and accelerating industrial decarbonization by using advanced heat pump solutions, which is here demonstrated in a real industrial environment.