Using heat pumps for the sustainable reuse of waste heat

See how it works

Heat pumps are a significant driver in the reduction of CO₂ and NO_x emissions, especially now that the electricity grid is being increasingly decarbonized through more use of wind and solar energy. In this way, heat pumps can make an impact on the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

What does the heat pump do?

A heat pump prevents waste heat from leaving a refrigeration plant by reusing it, and upgrading it to become useful elsewhere in the production process for functions such as:

• Washing and cleaning water operations
• Heating water for processing purposes such as pasteurization, blanching and drying

Heat pump example

This dairy processing example above illustrates the levels at which sustainable heat may be managed in order to achieve a zero-carbon-emission solution.

Level 1:  Reusing energy that flows directly via heat exchangers. 

Level 2:  Applying a heat pump to elevate the temperature level to a higher value. 

Level 3:  Harvesting solar heat (directly from solar collectors or indirectly from geothermal heat) and applying it directly in the process after a temperature lift with a heat pump.

Range of heat pumps

GEA offers a comprehensive array of heat pumps for process industries. We provide state-of-the-art technology and customize our solutions to meet customer requirements, spanning from 300 to 10,000 kW. The key component is the proven high-quality, high-efficiency GEA ammonia screw and piston compressors.