Hydrocarbon-Water High-Temperature Heat Pump (HC-R718 HTHP)

Project start: August 2025. Expected project completion: July 2028.

An innovative modular high-temperature heat pump system for industrial decarbonization
In this project, we are developing an innovative, modular high-temperature heat pump system designed to accelerate the green transition. By utilizing waste heat and ambient air, the system can deliver process heat as steam and pressurised hot water at temperatures of up to 200°C.

The core of the project is to create a cost-effective and highly energy-efficient solution that can replace traditional electrical boilers. The result is a reduction in electricity consumption by a factor of three, creating a competitive solution for the industry.

The solution meets a rapidly growing demand in Europe, driven in part by the industry's need to decarbonise heating processes. With its modular design, high efficiency, and use of natural refrigerants, the project is perfectly positioned to deliver a scalable and economically attractive technology to the market.

Our solution: An innovative modular design
In contrast to tailor-made solutions, our system is based on a "fit-for-application" approach. The system consists of three core modules that can be used individually or combined to achieve the desired capacity and temperature:

• Low-temperature module: Uses hydrocarbons as an efficient and natural refrigerant.
• Medium-temperature module: Also uses hydrocarbons to further elevate the temperature.
• High-temperature module: Uses steam as the working fluid to reach the highest process temperatures.

The modularity significantly simplifies the design and production process, enabling mass production and lowering installation costs.

Key advantages and technological highlights

• Preliminary calculations show a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 4.3 when producing heat at 140°C, which corresponds to energy savings of approximately 30% compared to other designs under development.
• The system exclusively uses natural refrigerants – hydrocarbons and water. To address the flammability of hydrocarbons, the design is optimized for a minimal refrigerant charge, which significantly enhances safety.
• To ensure maximum performance and reliability, we are developing and optimising three specialised types of compressors for operation with hydrocarbons and steam:
  • Piston compressors
  • Screw compressors
  • Oil-free turbo compressors.
• By building on standardised components, we ensure a scalable and cost-effective solution that can be easily integrated into the market.

Project partners: A world-class consortium
The project is driven by a strong consortium of leading industrial players and research institutions, ensuring expertise in all stages of the process:

• Danish Technological Institute (Project manager), Aarhus University, Fenagy, Upheat, Krebs, CS Techcom, Danfoss, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Palladio, LUVE, and SKF.

Funding
The project is funded by the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP). EUDP supports the development and demonstration of new technologies that contribute to achieving Denmark's energy and climate goals.