Quick selection of industrial heat pump types including the impact of thermodynamic losses

In this study a performance map is presented and it is shown that, for mechanical heat pumps, making use of the available temperature glide increases performance and reduces the payback period. While at low glides heat driven absorption heat pumps and vapor (re)compression heat pumps show the smallest payback times, mechanical heat pumps with large glides show to be more effective at higher temperature lifts when temperature glides are available. Due to improved performance, these mechanical heat pumps are able to achieve better economical results over their technical life time although they require higher initial investment.