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Absorption Heat Transformer and Vapor Compression Heat Pump as Alternative Options for Waste Heat Upgrade in the Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Giorgio Villa

    (Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milano, Italy)

  • Josè Luis Corrales Ciganda

    (TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20730 Azpeitia, Spain)

  • Gianluca Abrami

    (Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milano, Italy)

  • Tommaso Toppi

    (Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milano, Italy)

Abstract

Increasing the temperature of waste heat is crucial to enable its recovery. Vapor compression heat pumps and absorption heat transformers are the two heat upgrade technologies most commonly used for this purpose. Heat pumps have the advantage of entirely recovering the waste heat and the disadvantage of requiring electricity as input. Heat transformers need a negligible amount of electricity but reject at part of the waste heat input at low temperature. Due to these differences, the choice between the two options depends on the application. In this work, the environmental and economic performance of heat pumps and heat transformers are compared in some relevant applications. Indications about the most suitable technology are provided based on the availability of the waste heat, of the CO 2 content of the electricity and of the electricity–gas price ratio. Heat pumps perform better when the waste heat availability is limited compared to the upgraded heat requirements and has a better environmental profile when the electricity has low carbon content. Heat transformer results are often economically convenient, especially when the availability of waste heat is large.

Suggested Citation

  • Giorgio Villa & Josè Luis Corrales Ciganda & Gianluca Abrami & Tommaso Toppi, 2025. "Absorption Heat Transformer and Vapor Compression Heat Pump as Alternative Options for Waste Heat Upgrade in the Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:13:p:3454-:d:1691904
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    References listed on IDEAS

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