Innovative heat pump technology
The paper industry can save approximately 10% of its energy use by deploying a new heat pump concept, developed by the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), which makes the process of paper manufacturing more sustainable and more affordable.
ECN and Bronswerk Heat Transfer, global supplier of heat transfer solutions, signed a license agreement on Friday July 5th 2013 for selling the concept on the market. The innovative concept upgrades industrial waste heat to higher temperatures so it can be reused in the process.
ECN and Bronswerk Heat Transfer sign a contract for innovative heat pump technology
The temperature of most industrial waste heat is too low to be reused. Therefore, heat pumps raise the temperature to higher levels. The application developed by Bronswerk Heat Transfer and ECN offers an economically viable method to upgrade the temperature of waste heat to such a level that it can be reused in the industrial process, which results in significant energy savings.
Customer challenge
The temperature of most industrial waste heat is too low to be reused. Therefore, heat pumps raise the temperature to higher levels. The application developed by Bronswerk Heat Transfer and ECN offers an economically viable method to upgrade the temperature of waste heat to such a level that it can be reused in the industrial process, which results in significant energy savings.
Our approach
“Thanks to ECN’s concept, reusing waste heat has come within reach for multiple industrial applications. With this technique, the paper industry can make a giant leap towards a more sustainable and efficient production process”, says Robert Kleiburg, COO of ECN.
According to Sjaak Remmerswaal, former President of Bronswerk Heat Transfer, a more sustainable industry must be economically viable. “If we can earn back our sustainable technologies by energy savings and lower costs, we increase the incentive to make the switch. We are very optimistic about the market prospects of this system”, Remmerswaal says.
The concept is considered innovative because of the achievable, much higher temperatures. By using a natural refrigerant, the heat pump within this system can upgrade the temperature of the waste heat from 60 up to 140 degrees Celsius to produce steam, which is much higher compared to common heat pump systems.
The solution
Together with packaging specialist SmurfitKappa and air conditioning and refrigeration technology specialist IBK, ECN and Bronswerk Heat Transfer apply the Bronswerk Heat Transfer industrial heat pump on an acceptable scale (200 kW) at SmurfitKappa Roermond Paper. “This innovation fits in perfectly with our ambition to halve energy consumption throughout the chain”, emphasizes Henk Hoevers, Vice President of Technology at SmurfitKappa.
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