Thermoeconomic Analysis of Heat Pump Preheating For Fluidized Bed Drying Process


Sensoy B., AKTAŞ M., Durak V., Tanrikulu Z. B., MERGEN ŞENER M., Ulular M.

JOURNAL OF POLYTECHNIC-POLITEKNIK DERGISI, 2023 (ESCI) identifier

Abstract

Energy generation, global warming and climate change are one of the most critical issues today. While making contemporary designs for the effective and efficient consumption of energy should use innovative and efficient technologies. These technologies will contribute to the reduction of economic and environmental negative effects. In this study, natural gas consumption was tried to be reduced by integrating a heat pump into a fluidized bed sand drying system which operates entirely with a gas-burning device in the foundry industry. In this way, direct and indirect gains were tried to be created for system users. The heat pump was designed from water to water and used to make environmentally friendly R32 refrigerant, it makes preheating which increases ambient air from 20 degrees C to 45 degrees C. The coefficient of performance (COP) of this heat pump system has been calculated as 3,88. Due to heat pump integration, the drying system saved 36.839,1 Nm(3) of natural gas annually. Considering the annual operating time of the system, electricity, and natural gas unit costs; this integration predicted that the system would provide 193,501.25 L/year financial savings to its owner. Within the parameters, equipment and installation price, current dollar exchange rate and annual financial savings, the heat pump system amortization period was calculated as 1,50 years. Besides, it is possible to reduce carbon emissions by generating energy with photovoltaic panels in the system. At the same time, it is predicted that these photovoltaic panels will create an additional income parameter for the system owner.