Introduction: In the industrial sector, a significant amount of energy is wasted in the form of heat during various processes. This waste heat could be harnessed and recycled using Absorption Heat Pumps (AHPs). AHPs are highly efficient devices that can recover waste heat from industrial processes, generating useful energy in the form of hot water, steam, or chilled water.
Functionality: An AHP extracts heat from the industrial process stream and transfers it to a refrigerant, which then gets compressed to a higher temperature and pressure. The refrigerant then enters the generator, where it releases the heat and evaporates, producing high-pressure, high-temperature vapour. This vapour enters the absorber, where it gets absorbed by a working fluid, releasing heat and turning into a liquid. The working fluid then circulates back to the generator for the cycle to restart.
Advantages: Compared to conventional mechanical compression heat pumps, AHPs have several advantages, including:
Low operating cost: AHPs use natural gas, steam, or waste heat as an energy source, making them more economical than traditional electrically-driven vapour compression systems.
Scalability: AHPs can be scaled up or down depending on the application, making them ideal for small as well as large-scale industrial processes.
Compatibility: AHPs can work with a wide range of heat sources, including low-temperature heat sources that are not suitable for traditional systems.
Environmentally friendly: AHPs produce no emissions and have a reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional vapour compression systems.
Conclusion: Absorption heat pumps are an innovative and sustainable way to recover waste heat in industrial processes. They offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution that can help industries save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Adopting AHPs could lead to significant benefits for industrial operations, as well as for society and the planet at large.
