High-Temperature Heat Pump for Commercial Space and Water Heating

Processes in buildings and industrial applications account for 60% of direct and indirect CO2 emissions. More than 1.8 quads of energy are used annually in gas-fired equipment for commercial heating applications, accounting for more than 94 MMT of CO2 emissions in 2021. This project focuses on the development and performance optimization of a high-temperature heat pump for space and water heating for commercial buildings. The team intends to design and demonstrate a 30kW or higher capacity heat pump that can provide at least 180F sink temperature with acceptable COP.

Project Impact

This initiative aims to directly replace gas-fired heating systems in commercial buildings, thereby facilitating electrification and achieving a notable 50% reduction in direct CO2 emissions, with a particular emphasis on addressing heating challenges in cold climates. It introduces an integrated heat pump concept, characterized by an unprecedented sink temperature, optimizing the integration of processes for simultaneous air and water heating while also extending its implications beyond buildings to contribute to industrial decarbonization. Furthermore, this project is committed to demonstrating an acceptable coefficient of performance (COP) across all operational conditions, and it prioritizes system design to maximize performance while maintaining scalability for potential large-scale deployments.