What are industrial heat pumps and how do they work?
What are industrial heat pumps and how do they work?
Industrial heat pumps (IHPs) are large-scale appliances. They capture heat from a variety of sources like wastewater, and repurpose it to heat and cool buildings. IHPs can also make use of renewable energy, converting it into heat and cold, which can be stored.
As such, industrial heat pumps can help industries decarbonise. The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) estimates that heat pumps can provide around 10% (2,000 TWh) of the total final energy demand of an industry.
Around 10% of our global space heating needs were met by heat pumps in 2021. And the pace of installation is growing rapidly. For example, in Norway, 60% of buildings have heat pumps while in Sweden and Finland, over 40% of buildings have them.
The different types of industrial heat pumps
Industrial heat pumps have become an attractive option for businesses looking to optimise their thermal management strategies. While there are different types, the most suitable depends on factors such as temperature range, and the energy source.
Vapour compression heat pumps
Vapour compression (VC) technology reduces steam demand in the heating cycle.
Unlike conventional heat pumps that use chemical refrigerants, VC heat pumps compress process vapours or steam. They use the waste heat source itself.
Because heat pumps have high global warming potential (GWP), there is widespread interest in developing low-GWP VC heat pumps to help industries reduce their carbon emissions.
Absorption heat pumps
These systems use thermal energy instead of electricity. This makes them ideal for industries with surplus heat, such as food processing.
As air-source heat pumps (also referred to as gas-fired heat pumps), they use propane, natural gas, solar-heated water, or geothermal-heated water as their energy source. They use an ammonia-water absorption cycle to provide heating and cooling.
The ammonia (refrigerant) condenses in one coil, which reduces its pressure, and then evaporates to absorb heat. When the system absorbs heat from inside a building, it provides cooling; when it releases heat into a space, it provides heating.
Hybrid heat pumps
Hybrid heat pumps typically use a conventional heat pump alongside a fossil fuel heat source like an oil, gas, or LPG boiler. This setup allows for more flexibility as the system can switch between different energy sources depending on the conditions.
When temperatures drop, and the heat pump’s efficiency decreases, the system automatically switches to the secondary heating source.
This hybrid approach ensures consistent heating in cold spaces where heat pumps might struggle to meet demand on their own.
How do industrial heat pumps work?
All heat pumps perform the same three functions. They receive heat from a waste-heat source, they increase the waste-heat temperature, and they deliver the useful heat at a higher temperature.
An industrial heat pump uses similar technologies to those found in a refrigerator or air conditioner. It has a compressor and a heat exchanger. The compressor works by moving a refrigerant through a refrigeration cycle. The heat exchanger then extracts heat from the source.
In industrial spaces, the heat is delivered through forced air, or hydronic systems like radiators and under‐floor heating. These systems can also provide cooling for spaces that need consistently cooler temperatures, like in the food industry.
High temperature industrial heat pumps like those used in district heating networks require higher input temperatures. As such, they use waste heat from sources like wastewater, industrial processes, and data centres.
Applications across industries
The International Energy Agency reports that industrial heat pumps are mainly used for low‐temperature processes below 100°C. Notably, in the paper, food, and chemicals industries.
When used for heat recovery in industrial processes, industrial heat pumps are also used across the steel and manufacturing sectors. Because IHPs serve as dual systems, they offer consistent temperature control for both cooling and heating.
For example, at Equans, we helped Compagnie des Fromages & Riches Monts (CF&R) save 12 GWH (a 20-25% reduction) on its gas consumption. We did this by installing a high temperature industrial heat pump at its production site in Montauban-de-Bretagne[4]. The figures also show a saving of 2,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Jean Philippe LEROY, Engineering & Energy Manager at Compagnie des Fromages & Riches Monts says:
‘‘The energy savings generated by the installation of this heat pump will reach 50% by 2024’’.
IHPs are also used in district heating networks, providing sustainable heating and hot water for entire geographic areas within cities.
Industrial heat pumps and decarbonisation
Because industrial heat pumps recycle waste heat, they reduce the need for additional energy input. In turn, this can mean a 4x improvement in energy efficiency compared to traditional combustion heating methods.
Likewise, when IHPs are powered by renewable energy, they drastically reduce carbon footprints. This helps companies align with global carbon neutrality goals.
Heat pumps are also the only heating technology with potential thermal efficiencies above 100%. This means they offer significant energy savings as they’re less expensive to run. They also provide a faster return on investment. Many IHP systems achieve payback within 2 to 5 years.
Indeed, to achieve the EU’s target of a net-zero economy by 2050, decarbonising industrial heat is a top priority. EHPA reports that as of 2024, the heat pumps that have been installed across Europe have avoided 58.4 Mt of CO2 over the past 20 years.
Other benefits of decarbonizing industrial heat include: a cleaner and healthier environment, increased energy resilience and security, infrastructure investments, and significant job creation.
How Equans’ industrial heat pumps can support your decarbonisation journey
At Equans, our high temperature heat pumps can produce hot water up to 120°C. Our engineering teams will analyse your cold sources and heating needs to ensure optimal integration. We also have thermodynamics experts who can determine the best available technologies.
From design to installation, we provide customised heat pumps for industries like food and beverage, chemicals, and district heating. Our notable projects include heat recovery systems that reuse waste heat from processes like pasteurisation or chemical refining, reducing fossil fuel reliance.
We also integrate modern technologies in our process, such as predictive maintenance and hybrid systems. This ensures that our heat pump installations remain efficient and reliable.
