British engineering team wins IEA Heat Pump Award

Published:  02 June, 2014

The Rittinger Medal for breakthrough heat pump technology that fights climate change has been awarded to Dr. Andrew Pearson and his team.

The team responsible for the world’s largest zero carbon 90C (194° F) ammonia district heat pump, which has been installed in Scandinavia but designed and manufactured in Glasgow by Star Refrigeration, received the prestigious Rittinger Award at the International Heat Pump Conference in Montreal recently. Dr Pearson received the award for his groundbreaking research, design and development work in the field of heat pump technology. His pioneering technology has made it possible to deliver heat at high temperatures using ammonia, a non ozone depleting refrigerant with zero GWP, to run the system. The substitution of HFC gases for ammonia eliminates an equivalent of 800,000 km in car travel from gases leaking to the atmosphere.

The industrial water heat pump design allowed an energy efficiency increase of 25%, in comparison to conventional commercial heat pumps. It also permitted the use of renewable energy – hydroelectricity- ensuring the heat pump makes zero carbon heat available from a fjord.

The Rittinger award is granted every three years by the International Energy Agency Heat Pump Programme to deserving individuals or teams from member countries who have distinguished themselves in the advancement of heat pumping technologies applications, market development as well as dissemination activities with lasting international impact.

Dr Pearson commented: “This awards demonstrates the UK’s businesses strength in innovation and leading expertise in technical design of climate friendly technologies”