Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Raum IC 3 / 099
Universitätsstraße 150
44801 Bochum
Chemical processes require substantial amounts of energy, a large share of which is used to provide process heat. This demand is predominantly met through the combustion of fossil fuels. In pursuit of climate neutrality, there is a growing need for solutions that reduce emissions associated with process heat generation. Heat pumps offer the opportunity to upgrade previously unused waste heat sources to supply heat at a higher temperature, increasing process efficiency. Moreover, when powered by renewable electricity, significant emissions reductions can be achieved by substituting process heat that is currently provided by fossil fuels
To support the electrification of process heat, methods are being investigated and developed to identify and evaluate opportunities for heat pump integration. Different requirements arise depending on the application context, particularly in the retrofit of existing plants and the design of new facilities. A key factor for appropriate heat pump integration is determining the appropriate scale of integration. Decentralized integration between a limited number of process streams can reduce the required temperature lift but may increase process interdependencies. In contrast, centralized integration within the heat network of a chemical site typically requires higher temperature lifts while reducing process dependencies.
Hochhaus, T., Siepmann, S., Grünewald, M., Riese, J.
Impact of Distillation Column Design on Potential for the Integration of Mechanical Vapor Recompression. Chemie Ingenieur Technik (2026) doi.org/10.1002/cite.70074
Hochhaus T., Wloch J., Grünewald M., Riese J.
A Data-Driven Conceptual Approach to Heat Pump Sizing in Chemical Processes with Fluctuating Heat Supply and Demand. Systems and Control Transactions 4:1994-1999 (2025) doi.org/10.69997/sct.196662
Hochhaus, Thorben; Bruns, Bastian; Grünewald, Marcus; Riese, Julia
Optimal scheduling of a large-scale power-to-ammonia process: Effects of parameter optimization on the indirect demand response potential
Computers & Chemical Engineering, doi: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2023.108132, 2023
Thorben Hochhaus, Marcus Grünewald, Julia Riese
Heat pump integration in chemical sites – development of economic integration concepts
Annual Meeting of Process Engineering and Materials Technology, 10.-11.11.2025, Frankfurt
Thorben Hochhaus, Johannes Wloch, Marcus Grünewald, Julia Riese
A data-driven conceptual approach to heat pump sizing in chemical processes with fluctuating heat supply and demand
European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering 35, 06.-09.07.2025, Gent
Thorben Hochhaus, Marcus Grünewald, Julia Riese
A Conceptual Approach to Heat Pump Integration in Chemical Processes
Annual Meeting of Process Engineering and Materials Technology, 11.-12.11.2024, Frankfurt
Thorben Hochhaus, Marcus Grünewald, Julia Riese
Approaches to Determine Heat Pump Integration Potentials in Chemical Sites
Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA Fachsektion Energie, Chemie und Klima, 12.-13.03.2025, Frankfurt
Thorben Hochhaus, Julia Riese, Marcus Grünewald
Screening for Heat Pump Integration Potentials in Chemical Sites
Evonik Meets Science, 29.-30.09.2025, Heidelberg
Hochhaus, Thorben; Grünewald, Marcus; Riese, Julia
Vergleich des theoretischen, technischen und ökonomischen Potentials von zentralen und dezentralen Wärmepumpen in chemischen Prozessen
Jahrestreffen der erweiterten DECHEMA/VDI-Fachsektion „Prozess-, Apparate- und Anlagentechnik“(PAAT),
21.-22.11.2023, Frankfurt
Thorben Hochhaus, Marcus Grünewald, Julia Riese
Entwicklung eines Vorgehens zur Auswahl von Integrationsansätzen für Wärmepumpen in Trennsequenzen chemischer Prozesse
Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA-Fachgruppe Fluidverfahresntechnik, 04-06.03.2024 Bochum