High-temperature heat simulator (Heatpack) for application i computer laboratory sessions for engineering students

Abstract

A significant amount of energy in the form of heat is lost in industrial processes once it is used in specific processes. Among different technologies, high-temperature heat pumps (HTHP) are a valuable method of recovering low-temperature waste heat in the industry in a very efficient way that can be activated using clean electricity. As a recently investigated technology, they are not yet spread in industrial processes, where traditional technologies are preferred. Therefore, this work shows an HTHP computer program (named HeatPack) to be used as a simulator by the university or technical students of courses included in applied thermodynamics engineering. This interactive and user-friendly platform allows the modification of different operating and design parameters and the working fluid. As outputs, the program provides the rest of the operating parameters and the energy performance of the cycle (quantified by the coefficient of performance, COP). The proposed HTHP and a gas boiler are compared by the program and the energetic, carbon footprint, and economic savings are displayed. Students, as the main target of users of the program, can observe how this technology can provide benefits. For instance, emission reductions in comparison with fossil fuel-based boilers, under which situation the energy performance of the HTHP is higher, and which alternative low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants can provide more advantages. In addition to the educational use, this software can be used to design and study the integration of HTHPs in existing industrial needs to evaluate the feasibility.