Development of Ammonia-Water Hybrid Absorption- Compression Heat Pumps

Abstract

In this paper, investigations on the development of industrial high temperature heat pumps are carried out based on the analysis of the current available components. Ammonia-water hybrid heat pumps combine technologies of an absorption and compression heat pump with a mixture of ammonia and water as refrigerant. The functionality of this process was already been proven in the industrial sector using standard components. In this study, currently available components are investigated for utilization in a hybrid heat pump test facility able to operate at elevated high side pressures to achieve exit temperatures on the secondary fluid side of 140 °C to 180 °C. Critical components are identified and discussed based on defined process requirements. Subsequently, an overview of available components enabling process parameters with a high side pressure of up to 60 bar are presented and necessary adjustments for the use in the planned test facility are discussed.