A next-generation heat pump system that can provide cooling using low-temperature waste heat of approximately 40°C from factories and data centers has been developed. Unlike conventional air-conditioning systems, which use electricity to compress refrigerant, the newly developed system uses waste heat as its energy source. It has also achieved world-leading adsorption-bed performance, paving the way for lower electricity consumption and greater energy efficiency.
A research team led by Dr. Young Kim, Principal Researcher at the Heat Pump Research Center of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM; President Seok-Hyun Ryu), has developed a chemical adsorption heat pump system incorporating an electrochemical compressor, in collaboration with Professor Minseong Kim and Professor Dongkyu Kim of Chung-Ang University. The project was supported by the Alchemist Project funded by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP). KIMM developed the chemical adsorption heat pump, which operates on low-temperature waste heat at approximately 40°C, while Chung-Ang University developed a noise- and vibration-free electrochemical compressor. Samjung Tech Co., Ltd. manufactured a 10 kW-class prototype of the chemical adsorption heat pump.
The chemical adsorption heat pump developed by the research team provides cooling by utilizing low-temperature waste heat generated from factories and data centers. Unlike conventional adsorption cooling systems, which require heat sources above 70°C, the new system successfully demonstrated cooling operation using waste heat at just 40°C.
The research team also redesigned the adsorption bed, the core component of the heat pump, achieving a specific cooling power (SCP) of 346.5 W/kg. This is more than twice the performance of comparable international technologies and represents a world-leading level of performance.
The developed system incorporates an electrochemical compressor with no mechanical moving parts. Compared with conventional mechanical compressors, it reduces energy consumption while generating virtually no noise or vibration, making it well suited to hospitals, schools, residential areas, and other noise-sensitive environments. Through collaboration with Chung-Ang University, KIMM also advanced the development of a large-area ammonia compressor, bringing the technology closer to proof-of-concept validation and commercialization.
The technology is expected to be applied to heating and cooling systems for data centers, factories, and commercial buildings. By utilizing waste heat that would otherwise be discarded, it offers significant potential for energy savings. In addition, the system uses ammonia, a natural refrigerant, enabling compliance with international refrigerant regulations while providing an environmentally friendly heating and cooling solution.
Dr. Young Kim, Principal Researcher at KIMM, said, “The most significant achievement of this research is the successful demonstration of cooling low-temperature waste heat at just 40°C from factories and data centers. We are currently conducting demonstration tests with a 10 kW-class prototype. Building on these tests, we plan to pursue further research to advance the technology for field demonstration.”
This research was supported by the Alchemist Project of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP). Through this project, the research team produced 74 SCI papers, 67 patent applications, and 29 registered patents, and is currently conducting demonstration tests using the 10 kW-class prototype.