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Process Coupled Heat Pump systems

PCHP, Process Coupled Heat Pump systems, are an emerging technology based around Heat Pumps which GECCO2 is at the forefront. 

Essentially, latent low grade, or 'waste' heat residing within process media replaces the function of the ground collector (Geo-Exchange) in a traditional Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) system.

Coupled to the process by some suitable means, usually involving a heat exchanger, the thermal energy acquired by the Heat Pump can then be transferred to another process.   Provided enough latent thermal energy is present, this method could be used to contribute to the overall building heating and cooling strategy. This method can then supplement a traditionally installed Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) installation.

The economic advantages of the application of this technology can be demonstrated using the example of an Industrial unit adopting traditional process cooling and building heating strategies:

An Industrial Processing facility adopts a conventional gas fired boiler space heating strategy, consuming an certain amount of energy daily.  In addition to this, process cooling utilizes an standard air source system to extract thermal energy from the process and dissipate it to the atmosphere, again consuming an considerable amount of energy on a daily basis.  A PCHP system coupled to the processing facility could extract this thermal energy in the same way, but rather than dissipate it to the atmosphere where it is wasted, it could transfer it to a Heat Pump system via a Heat Exchanger which could then supplement, or even replace, the gas fired heating boiler system heating the premises.  This thermal energy can be transferred to offices and administration areas away from the main production facility, offering a flexible and efficient solution.

A PCHP can present a clear saving in energy usage as two processes are essentially using the same energy.  Also, local emissions can be reduced, and an overall reduction in carbon footprint can be expected.  A PCHP system can even be more efficient than traditional Air Sourced cooling strategies, as  well as presenting little, if any, increase in capital outlay.

Waste process media heat is considered an industrial pollutant.  By accessing and utilising this energy, you remove the need to address the associated issues by other means, such as cooling towers, which often include further energy wastage and considerable economic expenditure.