Under the motto “Heating and Cooling - Decarbonization of Industry and Buildings”, we cordially invite you to visit our booth at Chillventa in Hall 4A, Booth 318. Together with Fraunhofer IPM and Fraunhofer IKTS, we would like to use this industry event to present innovations from research and development. Fraunhofer ISE's presentation will focus on refrigeration circuits with natural refrigerants, heat pumps in apartment buildings and in industry as well as digital solutions for the installation of heat pumps for the trade.
Refrigeration Circuits With Natural Refrigerants
At Fraunhofer ISE, we have specialized in natural refrigerants in order to develop energy-efficient, future-proof refrigeration circuits. We are researching the development of refrigeration circuits for heat pumps, refrigeration systems and air conditioning units in the small and medium power range. Our expertise in natural refrigerants focuses on hydrocarbons (e.g. propane, pentane, butane) and water.
Project LCR290 – Development of Heat Pump Solutions with Propane.
Heat Pumps in Apartment Buildings
The real estate sector faces the challenge of meeting the German government's emissions targets. Heat pumps are a climate-friendly solution for heating and covering hot water requirements in buildings, but are currently only used in around three percent of existing multi-family buildings. We are conducting intensive research into solutions that can be standardized and multiplied on a broad scale. At Fraunhofer ISE, we are developing heat pump solutions using the natural refrigerant propane (R290) to replace gas and oil heating systems in existing apartment buildings.
Our demonstrator clearly shows how a heat pump can replace a wall-mounted gas boiler in an apartment building. In laboratory measurements, the demonstrator was able to achieve standard market efficiencies with a filling quantity of 150g and generate a maximum heating output of 5kW at B0/W55. Environmentally friendly propane is used as the refrigerant.
Project LCR290 – Development of Heat Pump Solutions with Propane.
Heat Pumps in Industry
Industry faces the challenge of converting its processes from fossil fuels to renewable energies in the coming decades. High-temperature heat pumps are a building block here: they can generate industrial process heat up to 200°C with good efficiencies, even in large output classes.
Fraunhofer ISE researches and develops high-temperature heat pumps for industry. We are working on efficient cycle processes with natural and climate-friendly refrigerants to provide hot water, steam and thermal oil.
Project KETEC – Research Platform Refrigeration and Energy Technology
Joint Project: FernWP – District and Process Heat Supply by Heat Pumps As a Substitute for Coal Combustion; Subproject: Planning, Construction and Operation of a GWP Test Plant
Digital Solutions for Planning, Construction and Installation
The shortage of skilled workers poses major challenges for many trade businesses. At the same time, companies will be faced with the task of decarbonizing the building stock in Germany in the coming years. The digitalization of trade processes can help to overcome these challenges.
At Fraunhofer ISE, we are analyzing existing processes in the installation and maintenance of new parts and components in existing buildings - with a particular focus on heat pumps. Building on this, we develop digital tools and data models in close cooperation with tradesmen, product manufacturers and wholesalers to speed up the installation process and facilitate data management.
We are also involved in the training and further education of tradespeople by helping to further develop job profiles in the trades.
Project WESPE – Faster, More Productive and More Efficient Heat Pump Installation
Electro- and Magnetocaloric Systems
Fraunhofer IPM presents electrocaloric cooling systems based on materials that heat up under an electric field and cool down when removed, as well as magnetocaloric cooling systems that use magnetizable materials. Fraunhofer IKTS will show multilayer ceramic components for electrocaloric cooling systems that exhibit high temperature changes and low dielectric losses.
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE