Product

Rotation Heat Pump K7

ecop RHP K7 data sheet (PDF)

Performance

The “ROTATION HEAT PUMP K7” is the first product from ecop. It is a completely new type of heat pump with thermal output of 700 kW.
In contrast to conventional heat pumps, the rotation heat pump can cover temperature ranges in a bandwidth from minus 20 °C to plus 150 °C. In our reference application it has already been demonstrated up to 95°C and on our laboratory test rig up to 125°C. There is no comparable product in the market.

Comparison

Coefficient of Performance

Due to the new technology, theoretically, depending on the specific application, a COP (Coefficient of Performance) of well over 10 is achievable. In practice, the values decrease (also with conventional heat pumps). The Rotation Heat Pump then achieves COPs of 4 – 7. It is very important that these values are achieved over the entire temperature range, especially at high temperatures of over 90 °C.

Depending on the refrigerant used, conventional heat pumps reach COPs of 4 – 5 in practice, but only at the optimum operating point. Otherwise, and especially at temperatures above 90°C, the COP drops strongly to values of 2.5 – 3.

Two example calculations for COPs at specific operating points. Both operating points can be operated with one and the same heat pump with adaptation via the electronic control. With our simulation tool you can calculate the COP for your own operating points.

Energy Efficiency Directive

This is a very important future field because the greatest demand for energy by far in industry and manufacturing, which is the generation of heat for technical processes, is bypassed and hence the demand for electricity as well. Therefore, process heat has become a significant cost factor for many companies. The Energy Efficiency Directive (EU Directive 2012/27/EU) stipulates that companies must save 20% of their primary energy requirements by the year 2020. At the same time, the F-Gas Directive (EU Directive no. 517/2014) massively limits the use of refrigerants.

Benefits

  • 1-phase process through which an approximate 70% higher COP is achieved than for conventional heat pumps
  • this results in high cost-effectiveness
  • higher achievable temperatures of up to 150 °C
  • broad area of application from -20 °C to 150 °C with one and the same machine and one working medium (adaptation by controlling the rotation speed)
  • flow rate and transferrable heating capacity can be regulated independently. That way, fluctuating temperatures in the source and sink can be processed (e.g. summer and winter operation)
  • environmentally friendly and non-combustible working material (no negative greenhouse effect, no special safety precautions)
  • The compression and expansion of the working medium is flexible and requires no lubrication, and all maintenance parts are rotating, standard, industrial parts which means the maintenance effort is low.
  • The ecop rotation heat pump can be used simultaneously in one machine to generate heat and cold, and it also serves as a flywheel accumulator
Conventional heat pump Rotation Heat Pump
Efficiency / COP (dependent on the exact integration) 2,5 – 5,0 4,0 – 7,0
Temperature range, source (input) -20°C bis +30°C -20°C bis +110°C
Temperature range, sink (output) 0°C bis +80°C 0°C bis +150°C
Maximum temperature rise 60°C 80°C
Flexible temperature range with one machine nein ja
Different applications possible (conversion) nein ja
Summer and winter operation nein ja
Tools Often harmful to the environment / toxic / flammable environmentally friendly, non-toxic, incombustible inert gas
Maintenance advantage low medium
Installation advantage low high
Purchase costs low medium

 

Technology

The ecop process is a thermodynamic cyclic process.

However, instead of the Carnot process in the 2-phase sector, the innovative heat pump technology is based on an anticlockwise running Joule process in which there is no phase transition of the working medium. It always remains gaseous. That way efficiency of compression of more than 99% can be achieved. This extremely high compression is a prerequisite for using the Joule process, so it can not be used in conventional heat pumps – which compress much worse in comparison.

The working gas of the rotation heat pump circulates in a closed cycle, which rotates around an axis. If heat exchangers are now positioned closer and farther away from the axis of rotation and connected to lines, a thermodynamic cyclic process is established. Since during rotation the centrifugal force increases with increasing distance from the axis of rotation, the working gas is also compressed more and more strongly by the centrifugal force. To operate the cycle, the working gas must circulate in the closed cycle by means of a fan. Due to the pressure increase in the off-axis areas, the temperature of the working gas increases, which releases heat into a sink via a heat exchanger. When the gas that is cooled that way expands again, its temperature changes to a lower level due to the flow against the centrifugal force and can thereby take up heat again at the source via the heat exchanger close to the axis.

The speed of rotation is up to 1800 rpm.

Depending on the speed of rotation, there is a different pressure ratio between the outer and inner zone. That way, the compression and expansion pressure ratio can be changed. This results in a freely definable temperature difference between the low-pressure side (source) and high-pressure side (sink), which can be regulated via the rotational speed. Through the rotational speed of the fan, the flow rate and hence the transferrable heating capacity are regulated independently of the temperature increase. Hence, this technology facilitates maximum flexibility.

Publications

FAQs

What temperature rise is possible with the rotation heat pump?

One machine achieves a temperature rise of up to 40 °C between the outlet sink and inlet source or alternatively up to 70 °C between the outlet sink and outlet source. However, it is also possible to combine two machines and that way increase this value to 80 °C or alternatively 110 °C respectively.

What is the difference between other technologies and high-temperature heat pumps?

ecop uses mature, patented technology with efficiency that is clearly superior to other technologies when used with significant temperature differences between the inlet and outlet in the heat exchangers from 15 °C to 40°C, and poses practically no risk to the environment in contrast to other technologies (toxic and poisonous working media etc.). Furthermore, other high-temperature heat pumps are not capable of attaining 150 °C efficiently and with long-term stability.

What working medium is used?

The working medium in the rotation heat pump always remains in a gaseous state. A special mix of noble gasses is used as gas, which is obtained from the air and is therefore completely non-poisonous and CO2 neutral.

What safety precautions are necessary?

The rotation heat pumps are put in a sealed, intrinsically safe housing so that no special precautions are required due to mechanical hazards or because of poisonous service fluids or a risk of fire. Vibrations and noise emissions are kept to a limited degree because of the rotationally symmetric construction that is balanced as a standard.

What performance classes are there?

The rotation heat pump is currently available with thermal heat output of 700 kW – the ecop Rotation Heat Pump K7, or the ecop RHP K7 for short. Multiple machines can be combined for higher capacity. A model with a capacity of 2 MW is currently being developed.

Where can I buy the Rotation Heat Pump?

Marketing and sales are handled by ecop Technologies. Please use the inquiry form to send us your data. We will get back to you directly.