Compression-Absorption Heat Pumps

Abstract

After a short description of the basic mode of operation of the compression-absorption heat pump with solution circuit, the advantages of this type of heat pump are shown in comparison with the conventional compression heat pump. Later the fields of application are pointed out that offer very favorable conditions, especially for this type of heat pump. In principle, there are two different types of application: first, the cases where the heat source, the useful heat or both should have a relatively wide range of cooling or heating temperature (e.g., the production of heat for district heating from the industrial low-temperature waste heat); second, the cases where a high temperature level of useful heat is required (e.g., the generation of process steam from industrial waste heat). For each type of application, the resorbers and desorbers have different construction features that are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the favorable design of the internal heat exchanger for cooling the rich solution and heating the poor solution is described. At the end of the presentation a heat pump that is currently in the project stage is described as an example. The economical advantages and the contribution to the environment by this plant are explained.