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Tocircle compressors enable waste heat recovery

Tocircle Industries produces rotary vane compressors for use in high temperature heat pumps. These compressors are well suited for green applications such as waste heat recovery.Published 23 Mar 2023 (updated 7 Feb 2024) · 2 min read
Model of industrial rig

More than 50 per cent of the world’s energy is lost as waste heat. This is far more than the combined global production from all renewable energy sources.

The problem of waste heat is particularly pressing in heat-intensive industry.

Heat pumps for energy recovery

Many industrial production processes require high temperatures, which are often generated by electricity or gas combustion. To achieve sustainable production, the waste heat from these processes must be upgraded through heat pumping and reintroduced to the process as useable heat.

Model of compressor

Vast market gap

There is a technology gap for large, industrial heat pumps capable of delivering temperatures between 100 and 200 °C. The compressor is the central component of a heat pump. Because the Tocircle compressor has excellent multiphase capability, it enables heat pumps to reach temperatures above 180 °C, filling a vast, unexploited market gap.

Numbers showing market size

Concrete benefits

Very high temperature heat pumps featuring Tocircle’s compressors recover industrial waste heat for reuse, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing energy consumption in heat-intensive industrial production processes.

Tocircle’s worldwide patented technology helps companies to cut energy costs by 50 per cent and carbon emissions by 70 per cent.

It also helps companies to reduce the carbon taxes they have to pay, as well as to comply with laws, regulations, and consumers’ and society’s expectations regarding sustainable business conduct.

Market potential

Very high temperature heat pumps featuring Tocircle’s compressors have potential applications for production processes in a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, pulp and paper, chemicals, metals, and pharmaceuticals.

Tocircle is currently testing a 1.5 MW heat pump for a pilot project with a French fries manufacturer in Belgium. A 5 MW heat pump will also be built in 2019 as part of the Hot Chips project funded under Horizon 2020’s SME instrument phase 2.

Tocircle is planning a facility for assembly and installation of heat pumps for the European market for industrial deep-frying of French fries and potato chips (crisps). These heat pumps have been developed in collaboration with the Duynie Group of the Netherlands.

Credentials of funding from the EU

At a glance

  • Tocircle develops compressors for converting waste heat into usable energy
  • Very high temperature heat pumps increase efficiency and cut energy consumption in industrial production
  • These heat pumps have vast market potential in a variety of industries from food to pharmaceuticals

Solution status

Soon available

There are concrete plans to make the solution commercially available in the near future.

TOCIRCLE INDUSTRIES AS

TOCIRCLE INDUSTRIES AS

Ørnesveien 3, 8160 GLOMFJORD, Norway

Website

Pål Bråthen

CEO

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Affordable and clean energy

7. Affordable and clean energy

About the goal


Waste heat recovery from production processes provides clean energy with a very low levelised cost of energy (LCOE).

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

About the goal


Waste heat recovery and reuse increases energy efficiency in industrial production.

Responsible consumption and production

12. Responsible consumption and production

About the goal


Waste heat recovery and reuse in industrial production helps to improve resource efficiency.

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