Glossary on high-temperature heat pumps for industry

High-temperature heat pump technology is complex – which makes a solid understanding of key technical terms all the more important. Our glossary provides clear, concise definitions of the most relevant terms in industrial heat pump applications – designed for planners, decision-makers and all those driving industrial decarbonization.

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C

Compressor

The compressor is the core component of a high-temperature heat pump (HTHP), enabling the supply of process heat at elevated temperature levels. It compresses …

Condenser (Liquefier)

A condenser, also known as a liquefier, is a key component in high-temperature heat pumps for industrial applications. Its primary function is to convert …

COP (Coefficient of Performance)

The Coefficient of Performance (COP) is a key metric that describes the efficiency of heat pumps and refrigeration systems. It represents the ratio of heat output to …

Decarbonization

Decarbonization refers to the process of gradually replacing fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas with carbon-neutral or low-carbon alternatives to …

Efficiency

Efficiency (sometimes also degree of efficiency) is a measure of how effectively a technical process, system, or machine converts input energy into …

Efficiency factor (Carnot efficiency)

The Carnot efficiency measures how efficiently a high-temperature heat pump approaches its theoretically maximum possible efficiency. It is defined as the …

Emissions

Emissions refer to the release of gases or substances into the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions increase …

Energy management

Energy management encompasses the systematic recording, analysis, and optimization of energy flows, as well as the procurement of energy …

European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)

The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) is the leading organization dedicated to promoting heat pump technology in Europe. Headquartered in Brussels, EHPA was founded in …

Evaporator

The evaporator is a key component in the refrigeration cycle of industrial heat pumps used for generating process heat. In this component, a refrigerant in a liquid state at low pressure is …

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric that quantifies the relative impact of a chemical compound on global warming. The GWP value of a gas indicates how much it …

Greenhouse potential

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric that quantifies the relative impact of a chemical compound on global warming. The GWP value of a gas indicates how much it …

see also: Global Warming Potential (GWP)

H

Heat generation circuit

A heat generation circuit refers to a modular technical system for generating and supplying thermal energy in industrial applications. High-temperature heat pumps can consist of …

Heat sink

In industrial high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs), the heat sink is the process receiving the heat, typically requiring temperatures of …

Heat Source

The heat source forms the thermal basis of a heat pump system. It supplies the low-grade energy that is upgraded to a higher temperature level through the thermodynamic …

High-temperature industrial heat pumps

A high-temperature industrial heat pump is a specialized type of heat pump designed for use in industrial processes, capable of achieving supply temperatures of …

Joule-Thomson effect

The Joule-Thomson effect describes the temperature change of a real gas during isenthalpic expansion – that is, when …

Liquefier

A liquefier, also known as a condenser, is a key component in high-temperature heat pumps for industrial applications. Its primary function is to convert …

P

Pinch Point Analysis

Pinch point analysis (also known as pinch analysis) is a systematic method for analysing and holistically optimizing energy use in …

Piston Compressor

A piston compressor is a mechanical type of compressor that compresses gases by reducing volume through piston-driven motion. In industrial high-temperature heat pumps …

Plate heat exchanger

A plate heat exchanger is a key component in industrial thermal engineering that transfers heat between two media—typically liquids or …

Process heat

Process heat refers to the thermal energy required in industrial processes for manufacturing, processing, or refining products. In Germany, the industrial sector consumes …

Refrigerants

Refrigerants are essential working fluids in high-temperature heat pumps used in industrial process heat applications. They facilitate thermal energy transfer by …

Return Temperature

The return temperature refers to the temperature of the heat transfer medium (typically water or a water mixture) as it returns to the …

Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF)

The Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) is a key indicator that describes the efficiency of a heat pump over an entire annual cycle. It represents the ratio between the total heat energy delivered and …

Subcooler

A subcooler is a heat exchanger used in the circuits of heat pumps and refrigeration systems. It cools the …

Supply Temperature

The supply temperature is a key parameter in heating, cooling, and process heat systems. It refers to the temperature of the heat transfer medium …

System integration

In the context of heat pump technology, the term system integration refers to the holistic incorporation of a heat pump into an existing or planned …

Temperature lift

The term temperature lift refers to the difference between the temperature of the heat source and the target temperature of the heat sink, achieved by a heat pump. In industrial high-temperature heat pumps, which are used for …

Waste Heat

Waste heat refers to excess thermal energy generated as a byproduct of industrial processes, in power plants, transportation systems, and building technology. It primarily occurs in the form of …