Innovative technologies and growing demand characterise a dynamic marketAERZEN compression technologies for efficient water vapour processes
Water vapour is used in various industrial applications as an energy source for transferring heat. The natural refrigerant water (R718) is non-toxic, non-flammable, environmentally friendly and has neither ozone depletion nor greenhouse potential. Thanks to its thermodynamic properties, water is suitable as a refrigerant for high-temperature heat pumps (over 100 °C). Higher energy efficiency, reduction of CO2 emissions and improved plant efficiency through lower energy costs are achievable and are among the key drivers for the use of water vapour on the customer side. There are many possible applications for water vapour. In the food industry, heat is used, among other things, for the drainage and drying of products in order to maintain their quality and extend their shelf life. The pharmaceutical and chemical industries also rely on water vapour as an energy source in process technology. The requirements for vapour pressure and temperature vary depending on the process and must be considered individually. A suitable compressor ensures a stable and reliable supply of process vapour - and at the same time opens up possibilities for energy-efficient processes such as mechanical vapour recompression.
Strong growth potential for MVR compressor packages
Mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) is an important process in many modern industries and technologies. MVR serves to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. By reducing the use of secondary energy (oil, natural gas, coal), it also enables cost savings. In this process, exhaust vapours - in simple terms waste heat as a heat source in the form of water vapour - is compressed mechanically in one or more stages, which
increases the temperature and pressure. The vapour “recycled” in this way is then fed back into the initial process or used for other purposes. Against the backdrop of ecological and economic aspects, the global market for MVR compressor packages has strong growth potential. With the modified VM series and the modified blower stages GM 60S to GM 240S, AERZEN offers a comprehensive product portfolio for vapour compression. The stages are water-injected. AERZEN is already active with customised solutions for vapour recompression. For a current project, slightly superheated water vapour is to be compressed in a single-stage process using modified VM85i machines. AERZEN also has many years of experience with GM blowers in the range of vapour compression in breweries, where the GM150S and GM240S types are predominantly in operation.
“SteamScrew” project
Aerzener Maschinenfabrik, in co-operation with the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEG and the Department of Fluid Technology at TU Dortmund University, Aerzener Maschinenfabrik is developing a high-temperature heat pump. The SteamScrew project aims to develop a high-temperature heat pump that uses water as a refrigrefrigerant. AERZEN has developed a new, synchronised water vapour screw compressor for this purpose. This allows vapour with a source temperature of 80–120 °C to be compressed to up to 200 °C and 10 bar(a) and supplied as heat or process vapour. The special design of the compressor, which enables the delivery of pure saturated vapour without contamination, should be emphasised.
vapour recompression (illustration without
insulating jacket)
