Heat pump COP, part 2: Generalized COP estimation of heat pump processes

Industrial heat pumps (IHP) are a major contributor in the transformation towards a future energy system based on electrical power. The main barrier for IHP integration is the operating cost and thereby the COP. COP is highly dependent on the temperature difference between the source and sink. Today estimation of expected COP is often done by IHP suppliers and involves choices such as working fluid and compressor technology. By extending the method (of part 1) to include a generic and generalized estimation of COP, the feasibility of integration is elaborated to include real process parameters such as working fluid, compressor and heat exchanger characteristics. The method allows analysis of the credibility of assumptions for heat pump performance and estimated COP improvement from changes of the individual characteristics. For systems with predetermined economic constraints (part 1), the extended model may be used to eliminate combinations of working fluids, compressors and heat exchangers that will not lead to a viable IHP integration.