High-Pressure Screw Compressors for Large Heat Pumps up to 11 MW

Energy generation, industrial heat pump systems and process heat technology impose particularly high demands on compressors in terms of pressure resistance, temperature stability and continuous operation. At HeatExpo in Dortmund from 25 to 27 November 2025, GEA presented a new high-pressure screw compressor developed specifically for these application areas.

The unit is designed for use in ammonia heat pumps (NH₃) as well as in high-pressure gas applications. It covers a heating capacity range from 2 to 11 MW per compressor, making it particularly suitable for large industrial systems for process heat and district heating generation.

Designed for High Pressures and Temperatures
The compressor is engineered for a design pressure of 70 bar (g). The maximum condensation temperature is 95 °C, while the maximum discharge temperature reaches 140 °C. This makes the machine suitable for high-temperature heat pump processes in which thermally demanding operating conditions occur.

A variable internal volume ratio (Vi) enables adaptation to different operating conditions and contributes to stable efficiency in both part-load and full-load operation.

Performance Data and Frame Sizes
The compressor series includes three frame sizes with a displacement volume ranging from 1,990 to 2,748 m³/h at 2,940 rpm. The maximum rotational speed is 3,600 rpm, which results in the wide covered performance range. These key figures clearly position the compressor in the segment of high-capacity industrial heat pumps.

Design Basis and Maintenance Concept
The design is based on GEA’s screw compressor technology, which has been continuously developed over several decades. The new design is specifically optimized for the operating conditions of NH₃ heat pumps and high-pressure processes.

The compressor is designed for long service life, high operational reliability and simplified maintenance. This targets applications in which downtime causes high costs and stable continuous operation is required.

Application Fields in Industry and Energy Supply
Typical applications include industrial high-temperature heat pump systems, waste heat recovery, process heat generation, district heating production and high-pressure gas processes. Such performance ranges are increasingly in demand, particularly in energy-intensive industries such as the chemical, food, paper and basic materials industries.

Technical Positioning in the Market Environment
Screw compressors are widely used in high-capacity heat pump systems. The design presented here combines high pressure resistance, high discharge temperatures and large volumetric flow rates in a compact machine concept. In this performance class, only a few compressors combine NH₃ compatibility with a 70 bar design pressure and more than 10 MW of heating capacity in a single unit.

What Makes This Compressor Technically New
The technical innovation lies in the combination of high-pressure capability up to 70 bar, high discharge temperatures up to 140 °C, variable internal volume ratio and a design optimized for ammonia. This specifically expands the application range of screw compressors toward high-temperature and high-capacity heat pump systems.

www.gea.com