Performance optimization of a heat pump for high temperature application

Abstract Environmental and climate protection is one of the most important global challenges of the current century. Energy efficiency and clean energy is a viable solution to this challenge. Heat pumps are age-old technology that is currently widely employed in the residential sector. Heat pumps are an energy-efficient solution to meet hot water requirement in industries as well. High temperature above 80 °C is required for industrial applications. This paper explores the possibility of application of heat pump in industries to cater to high-temperature processes above 100 °C. Refrigerants suitable for high-temperature application are subjected to analysis and comparisons based on their properties using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. R1233zd (E) and R1336mzz (Z) is analysed further based on maximum temperature and COP. A case study is carried out on a dairy plant to explore the possibility and extent of energy savings using heat pumps resulting in energy cost reduction of 46%.