Hydration heat transformer: A groundbreaking technology for sustainable process heating

The present study introduces the Hydration Heat Transformer (HHT) as a groundbreaking thermochemical technology for recovering and upgrading low-grade industrial waste heat (WH) to high-temperature heat for sustainable process heating applications. Apart from the introduction of the technology to the scientific and industrial communities, the study aims to design and size the HHT system with SrBr 2 ·H 2 O as the reacting material for 150–250 °C operating temperature range and certain use cases. The key parameters by which the techno-economic performance of the system is evaluated under various operating conditions include temperature lift, thermal coefficient of performance (COP h ), and Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH). The results indicate that the proposed HHT has the potential to achieve a temperature lift of 50 °C, a COP h of 0.605, and with an LCOH ranging from 2 to 7.5 c€/kWh depending on specific economic considerations. A parametric study determines the impact of condenser temperature, reactor's heat exchanger pinch temperature, WH pricing, and the reactive material's cost on the technical and economic metrics of the system. The results show that, upon proper business models and fair component and material costs, the HHT could significantly reduce environmental impacts and energy supply cost of industrial sites, offering a cost-efficient system as an alternative solution for conventional process heating technologies. • Hydration heat transformers (HHTs) are proposed for sustainable industrial waste heat recovery and process heating. • Uses SrBr 2 .H 2 O to upgrade heat from 150 to 250 °C with a 50 °C temperature lift and COPh of 0.605. • LCOH ranges from 2 to 7.5 c€/kWh depending on salt price, WH cost, and pinch temperature. • Parametric study shows economic and performance sensitivity to key design factors. • HHTs offer a cost-effective, low-electricity alternative to conventional and mechanical heat systems.