Collection
Development and Applications of High Temperature Heat Pumps
The share of renewable energy in the energy mix of several countries is steadily increasing, and the concept of achieving full production from renewable sources is no longer just a dream. However, significant efforts are still required to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in certain sectors, particularly in the industrial sector. Many industrial processes rely on fossil fuels for high-temperature thermal energy, accounting for a big portion of total final energy consumption. In this context, high-temperature heat pumps can play a crucial role by utilizing electricity to generate thermal energy at temperatures suitable for industrial processes, reaching up to 250°C. Moreover, these systems enable the coupling of power and thermal energy vectors, offering advantages in terms of energy storage and management. There is growing interest in this technology within both the industrial and academic communities, whether as standalone systems for power-to-heat conversion or in conjunction with thermal storage and engines for power-to-heat-to-power applications. Various technical solutions can be employed in high-temperature heat pumps, taking into account factors such as the required temperature for thermal energy, efficiency, complexity, costs, and more. As an emerging technology, several aspects are currently under investigation, including optimization of system layout, applicability in different scenarios, management strategies, dynamic behavior, economic impact, sustainability, and more. This collection aims to encourage original contributions focusing on recent developments and concepts related to high-temperature heat pumps. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, new solutions or configurations, management strategies, component development, working fluids, applications, system integration, interaction with energy storage systems, integration with renewable energy sources, waste heat recovery, economic and environmental impact, off-design operation, dynamic behavior, startup time, and load-following capabilities.
Keywords: Rankin high temperature heat pumps, Brayton-Joule high temperature heat pumps, operating conditions, component development, operating fluids, optimization, management strategies, applicability in different scenarios, design and off-design, dynamic behavior, system integration, feasibility analysis, economic impact, CO2 emissions reduction, sustainability
Editors
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Lorenzo Ferrari
Assoc. Prof. Lorenzo Ferrari, University of Pisa, Italy. He obtained PhD Diploma in “Energy Engineering and Innovative Industrial Technologies” in June 2003 at the University of Florence. Assistant Professor at the University of Florence from 2004 to 2011. From 2011 to 2016, Researcher at the National Research Council of Italy. From 2016 to 2019, Assistant Professor at the University of Pisa (field of Fluid Machines and Energy Systems). Since 2019, Associate Professor at the University of Pisa. His research interests focus on the design and optimization of energy systems, waste heat recovery, energy storage, and power to X to power.
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Raoof Gholami
Prof. Raoof Gholami, University of Stavanger, Norway. Dr. Gholami is a Professor in the Department of Energy Resources at the University of Stavanger, Norway. His research focuses on Wellbore and Reservoir Integrity, Carbon Geo-Sequestration (CGS), Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) and Thermal Energy Storage.
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Bassam Badran
Dr. Bassam Badran, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Sweden. Currently, he is a project leader at the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), working on industrial heat pumps. His research interests focus on hybrid heat pumps for DHC networks and buildings for innovative technology and waste heat management, and high-temperature heat pump systems for energy-intensive businesses, capable of delivering a novel approach to sustainability and net-zero emissions.
