Final Project Report: LEAP – Low Pressure Steam Heat Pump

In the LEAP (Low Pressure Steam Heat Pump) project, the integration of heat pump systems for for low-pressure steam supply is being investigated in detail on the basis of the processes of the two industrial partners Lenzing AG and Austrotherm GmbH. For this purpose, possible integration points are identified and the most promising ones are selected for more further analysis. The integration of heat pumps into industrial processes is often complex, as they are usually integrated into existing processes. Therefore, the optimal process integration determines the efficiency of the measure. The investigations will also provide the basis for upscaling in order to exploit the full waste heat potential at the industrial sites under consideration. Furthermore, the investigations in the LEAP project should provide the basis for the development of new business models.

The heat pump is a key technology for the decarbonisation of Austrian industry. The findings from the LEAP project will be used to identify the framework conditions and economic requirements for promoting the integration of steam-generating heat pumps in existing industrial processes.