Smart heat recovery for ammonia systems
GEA open-type heat pumps are purpose-built to recover waste heat from ammonia refrigeration plants. Cooling hot gas in an open gas cooler vessel reduces superheat and pressure drop, supporting efficient booster heat pump operation.
The series uses GEA reciprocating compressors: 5 HP (50 bar), V HP (39 bar), and V XHP (63 bar), in single or duplex configurations. A desuperheater and/or subcooler can improve efficiency and reduce energy use.
With a desuperheater, the system can supply hot water at temperatures up to:
- +95 °C with the GEA Grasso V XHP compressor
- +82 °C with the GEA Grasso 5 HP compressor
- +70 °C with the GEA Grasso V HP compressor
Designed for ammonia refrigeration plants condensing between +20 °C and +40 °C, the heat pump includes a high-efficiency oil separator that limits oil carryover to below 5 ppm, helping prevent cross-contamination and maintain reliable operation.
Key features and highlights
- Designed for heat recovery in ammonia refrigeration systems
- Heating capacity: 300–3,500 kW
- Hot water supply temperatures up to +95 °C
- Compressor pressure differences up to 30 bar
- Natural refrigerant: ammonia (R717)
- Max. design pressure: 50 bar(a)
- Single or duplex reciprocating compressor options
- Fully welded plate-and-shell condenser
- Heat exchangers available in AISI 316L, SMO 254, or titanium
- Customizable plate materials to suit media requirements
- Optional sub cooler and desuperheater integration
- Separation vessel (no intermediate heat exchanger required)
- High efficiency even under partial load
- Variable speed drive (VSD) for stepless capacity control
GEA open type heat pumps
| Type | Heat carrier (°C) inlet/outlet | LP condensing (°C)¹ | Heating capacity (kW) at 1500 min⁻¹ | COP² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add-on version (cascade evaporator charged with ammonia from low-pressure chiller) | ||||
| 35 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 320 | 8.38 |
| 35 HP | +70/+80 | 35.0 | 266 | 4.78 |
| 45 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 426 | 8.33 |
| 45 HP | +70/+80 | 35.0 | 355 | 4.91 |
| 55 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 533 | 8.45 |
| 55 HP | +70/+80 | 35.0 | 444 | 4.87 |
| 65 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 639 | 5.78 |
| 65 HP | +70/+80 | 35.0 | 531 | 4.29 |
| 2× 45 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 828 | 8.19 |
| 2× 45 HP | +70/+80 | 35.0 | 709 | 4.90 |
| 2× 55 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 1036 | 8.19 |
| 2× 55 HP | +70/+80 | 35.0 | 887 | 4.89 |
| 2× 65 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 1242 | 8.22 |
| 2× 65 HP | +70/+80 | 35.0 | 1063 | 4.93 |
| V300 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 879 | 8.51 |
| V450 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 1317 | 8.53 |
| V600 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 1756 | 8.59 |
| 2× V450 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 2634 | 8.56 |
| 2× V600 HP | +35/+65 | 35.0 | 3511 | 8.59 |
¹ condensing temperature of the low-pressure ammonia refrigeration system, ² COP (coefficient of performance) = heating capacity / electrical consumption at net
