DA-88-04-2 -- Operating Experience with a 50 MW Absorption Heat Pump PDF

A utility in Uppsala, Sweden, operates among other activities a refuse-fired incinerator plant burning 750 tons of garbage per day. The plant is equipped with a flue gas condensation installation in which the flue gases are cooled to below 90 F with the aid of an absorption heat pump. The heat pump is driven by steam from the incineration plant and recovers 22 MW of heat giving a gross output of 50 MW. This paper d~cribes the reasons for choosing an absorption heat pump rather than a more conventional compression heat pump.

Design criteria and data are given. It took more than six months to get the heat pump fully operational. The problems encountered during the start-up period are described as well as the measures taken to remedy them. The heat pump has now operated continuously for six months. Performance data are given in the paper as well as recommendations for the design of large absorption heat pumps, based on the experience gained.

Units: I-P