Fraunhofer ISE has demonstrated a laboratory test stand that can measure high-temperature heat pumps supplying process steam at temperatures up to 160 °C. Its announcement, published on 7 October 2026, describes a research capability—not a commercial heat-pump product or an industrial plant already operating at that temperature.
Can an industrial heat pump produce steam at 160 °C?
Heat pumps can be developed and tested for industrial heat demands in this temperature range, but the 160 °C figure in Fraunhofer ISE’s announcement refers to the maximum temperature measurable on its new test stand. It does not establish that any particular commercial model is available, or that all industrial heat pumps can produce steam at that temperature.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Heat Pumps | $75.59 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Industrial Heat Pump-Assisted Wood Drying (Advances in Drying Science and Technology) | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
HVACR 401: Heat Pumps: Heat Pumps | $103.27 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Heat Pumps | $268.30 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Heat Pumps: Operation, Installation, Service | $49.95 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The distinction matters because a maximum temperature alone says little about whether a system can deliver the required steam or pressurized hot water efficiently and reliably under real operating conditions. Fraunhofer ISE did not publish a coefficient of performance (COP), thermal capacity, operating-hour total, cost, or emissions reduction for the test stand.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhat did Fraunhofer ISE demonstrate?
The institute built a laboratory test stand through FernWP, a collaborative project whose German title is “Fern- und Prozesswärmeversorgung durch Wärmepumpen als Ersatz der Kohleverbrennung.” The stand enables researchers to analyze high-temperature heat pumps supplying process steam and pressurized hot water at temperatures up to 160 °C.
#1 Best Overall
The current investigations focus on heat pumps using butane as the refrigerant. Because butane is flammable, the project also considers safety and installation requirements. The announcement describes a research program and measurement capability; it does not identify a finished product or a specific industrial installation using the test stand.
Why does the maximum temperature not settle industrial suitability?
Industrial processes need a dependable supply as heat sources, demand and operating modes change. Fraunhofer ISE project lead Dr. Ursula Wittstadt said in German that maximum achievable temperature is not the only decisive factor: a high-temperature heat pump must also supply process steam or pressurized hot water efficiently and reliably as those conditions vary. This English rendering is a translation of her statement, not her original wording.
That performance depends on the system as a whole, including the heat source, refrigerant, heat exchanger, hydraulic integration, controls, safety provisions and operating strategy. A temperature rating without evidence about these factors cannot show how a heat pump would perform in a particular factory.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat do Fraunhofer ISE’s other heat-pump projects show?
Monitoring in district-heating networks
The 2026 release also reports monitoring five large heat pumps in district-heating networks. That work provided operating insights related to sizing and operational management; it is separate from the 160 °C test-stand research. Fraunhofer ISE’s broader conclusion is conditional: large heat pumps can operate reliably and reach required operating points when components, controls, hydraulic integration and operating strategy are designed and implemented appropriately.
Rank #3
Research on chemical-process integration
Fraunhofer ISE’s separate IndHP2Chem project investigates integrating high-temperature heat pumps above 130 °C into chemical production. Its stated questions include efficiency and economic viability, technical integration, long-term stability, availability and control behavior. Evonik Operations GmbH is a project partner, and the project runs from September 2024 to August 2028. This is related research, not evidence that the FernWP test stand serves a chemical plant.
How do 160 °C heat pumps fit into industrial process heat?
In a 6 November 2025 news report, Fraunhofer ISE said industrial heat pumps can supply heat for many manufacturing processes in the 100–200 °C range. The report also identifies the electricity-to-gas price ratio as an important indicator of economic operation. Actual economics depend on the site and its operating conditions; the temperature range alone does not establish that a heat-pump installation will be cost-effective.
Rank #4
A separate Fraunhofer ISI policy brief from 2024 discusses a food-industry drying demonstration involving two 400 kW high-temperature heat pumps being tested for process heat up to 160 °C. It cites a COP of up to 4.7 for that separate demonstration. Those figures are not measurements from Fraunhofer ISE’s FernWP test stand, and the brief describes the units as being tested.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What should an industrial buyer evaluate?
A project assessment should match a heat pump to the process’s actual operating requirements rather than compare headline maximum temperatures alone. Relevant questions include:
Best Value
- Delivered conditions: What steam pressure, temperature and quality, or pressurized-water conditions does the process require?
- Heat source: What source is available, at what temperature, and how consistently across seasons and operating shifts?
- Efficiency: What performance is documented at the site’s real source and delivery conditions, including part-load operation?
- Capacity and flexibility: Can the system meet the required load and respond to changes in demand or operating schedules?
- Integration and safety: How will the heat pump, refrigerant, heat exchangers, hydraulics, controls and safety measures fit the existing plant?
- Operational evidence: What evidence supports reliable long-term operation, availability and maintenance under comparable conditions?
- Economics: How do local electricity and gas prices, investment costs and the plant’s operating profile affect the business case?
Fraunhofer ISE’s 2026 announcement does not provide product-by-product data for a commercial comparison. It establishes the test stand’s measurement ceiling and describes the research questions; it does not supply the site-specific performance evidence needed to choose an installation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
