Heat pumps in distillation

Abstract

The methods used and results obtained in evaluating the economics of substituting heat pumps for conventional distillation process design are presented. From this study it was concluded that: heat pumps have extensive applicability to distillation whenever direct refrigeration or chilled water are required for condensation; heat pumps have limited, but very real ranges of applicability when reboiler temperatures are above 300/sup 0/F; the heat pump is rarely, if ever, justified with condenser temperatures between 100 and 250/sup 0/F if the plant steam system is used for both power (either direct turbine drives or electricity generation) and heating. (When steam is generated for heating only, low pressure steam is just as costly as high pressure steam and the heat pump has a wider range of application); and most heat pump applications will be in new process designs since the range of application is severely diminished in replacement situations. (LCL)