In future, large heat pumps will be able to provide district and process heatwithout producing CO2 by integrating renewable electricity into the heat supply. Germany's first publicly accessible research facility for large heat pumps has now been opened in the presence of Brandenburg's Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy Jörg Steinbach and Philipp Nimmermann, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
The aim is to clarify open questions regarding development and operation. "(...) Large heat pumps for industry and heating networks are a building block that should not be underestimated. Public utilities and many energy-intensive companies will be considering the purchase of high-temperature or large heat pumps in the coming years," said Philipp Nimmermann. The facility that has now been inaugurated comprises two research and test benches for high-capacity and high-temperature heat pumps.
The first test stand measures the performance data of brine/water units for up to one megawatt heating capacity and flow temperatures of up to 90 °C in realistic operation, thus providing the basis for the further development and optimization of heat pump prototypes. The test bench enables free-field measurements of sound propagation and electromagnetic compatibility. The test bench is available to manufacturers and developers and combines the possibilities of validating specific measures to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness on real large heat pumps under defined laboratory conditions.
