Ultra-High Temperature Heat Pump. Gdańsk Tech Leads the DUOHEAT Project
Heat that today irretrievably escapes from industrial plants into the environment can become a useful source of energy again. Scientists from Gdańsk Tech, AGH University of Science and Technology, and the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences are developing an innovative two-stage heat pump capable of raising the temperature of waste heat by up to 100 K and producing a carrier with a temperature of up to 200°C. The solution is being created as part of the DUOHEAT project, financed by the Foundation for Polish Science.
Heat that today irretrievably escapes from industrial plants into the environment can become a useful source of energy again. Scientists from Gdańsk Tech, AGH University of Science and Technology, and the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences are developing an innovative two-stage heat pump capable of raising the temperature of waste heat by up to 100 K and producing a carrier with a temperature of up to 200°C. The solution is being created as part of the DUOHEAT project, financed by the Foundation for Polish Science.
Technology Yet to Be Launched on the Market
The goal of the project is to create, test, and prepare for commercialization an ultra-high temperature heat pump capable of producing heat at temperatures up to 200°C. This ambitious undertaking involves significant scientific and technological risk, as achieving such a substantial increase in temperature is currently beyond the reach of commercially available solutions.
The key feature of the designed device will be the so-called temperature lift, meaning the difference between the source temperature and the heat receiver temperature. In the case of the DUOHEAT pump, this is expected to be at least 100 K. This means the ability to raise the temperature of low-temperature waste heat to a level at which it can be reused in demanding industrial processes.
The solution may find applications, among others, in the food industry, for example during drying and pasteurization, in the wood industry for drying wood, as well as in the chemical industry in processes requiring heating.
– In many industrial processes, significant amounts of waste heat are irreversibly “dumped” into the environment, for example in the form of hot air at around 100°C or steam. As part of our project, thanks to the use of the heat pump, we plan to recover this unused energy. Increasing the temperature of waste heat by at least 100°C will enable its reuse in industry – says Prof. Dariusz Mikielewicz, Vice-Rector for Research, Director of the Institute of Energy, and project leader.
From Research to Prototype
The work on the device will involve comprehensive experimental, analytical, and numerical research. Scientists will focus on the most important components of the future system, including the compressor, heat exchangers, and selecting an appropriate working fluid. Phase changes and two-phase flows occurring during the operation of the device will also be analyzed.
The project is being implemented by a consortium led by Gdańsk Tech. It also includes AGH University of Science and Technology and the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences.
Compressor as the Heart of the System
One of the most important components of the designed heat pump will be a high-speed, oil-free centrifugal compressor of high efficiency. The use of oil-free bearings and seals is intended to reduce energy losses, simplify device maintenance, and eliminate the risk of leakage of substances harmful to the environment.
The compressor’s design will have a direct impact on the efficiency of the entire system and the ability to achieve the intended temperature parameters.
Committed to Environmental Protection
An essential element of the research will also be the selection of the working fluid, i.e., the substance circulating in the pump circuit responsible for the transfer of thermal energy.
– The second important element is the selection of the working fluid. My intention as the project leader is to choose a natural, organic fluid that will not negatively impact the environment – adds Prof. Mikielewicz.
The choice of the appropriate fluid will need to consider both its thermodynamic properties and safety in use as well as its environmental impact.
Giving Waste Heat a Second Life
DUOHEAT is aimed at contributing to the development of an economy based on more sustainable heat production. Recovering energy currently lost could reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes.
The technology can also support the electrification of industry, meaning the replacement of fuel combustion-based processes with solutions using electrical energy. Linking heat production with the power system can foster better use of energy from renewable sources and, in the future, also from planned nuclear energy units in Poland.
Work on the project will continue until 29 March 2029.
The project titled “Implementation of an Innovative Two-Stage Heat Pump for Electrification of High-Temperature Thermal Processes – DUOHEAT” is funded by the Foundation for Polish Science from the European Funds for the Modern Economy (FENG) program. Funding amount: PLN 10,992,912.95.