Industrial Heat Pumps- A Reexamination in Light of Current Energy Trends

Heat pumps have been used for nearly one hundred years mostly providing heating and cooling for homes and residential settings. However, industrial heat pumps are also used and may be driven by waste heat streams from the manufacturing facility to provide industrial heating and cooling. This paper shows that waste heat driven heat pumps can provide medium range paybacks when the right conditions exist. Case studies were taken from published literature and data from NCSU’s Industrial Assessment Center to illustrate the expected payback periods for heat pump installations and to show operational characteristics of heat pumps that allow for money savings. The heat pumps recommended by the IAC showed payback periods of 1-5 years, mostly due to favorable electrical pricing versus fuel costs. These case studies illustrate several important operating conditions that ensure savings from the installation of waste heat driven heat pumps