Title: Heat pump heating system based on waste heat recovery from electrical equipment: energy, exergy, economic, and environmental analysis

Authors: Qikun Yuan; Yuxiong Zhang; Feng Shi; Shuchang Pan

Addresses: Yunnan Power Grid Co., Ltd., No. 23, Dongfeng East Road, Panlong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, 650051, China ' Yunnan Power Grid Co., Ltd., No. 23, Dongfeng East Road, Panlong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, 650051, China ' Yunnan Power Grid Co., Ltd., No. 23, Dongfeng East Road, Panlong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, 650051, China ' Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92, Xidazhi Street, Nangang District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China

Abstract: Cold-region substations typically utilise electric heating systems that are energy-intensive and inefficient, resulting in significant energy waste. This study presents a heat pump system using electrical equipment service oil waste heat to replace inefficient substation electric heating. Analysing energy, exergy, economic, and environmental performance with real data, it shows coefficient of performance (COP) 1.44-2.86, annual net profits (ANP) $121,300-$178,600, payback periods (PBP) 2.6-2.1 years, and yearly reductions of 75.47 t CO₂, 4.57 t SO₂, and 2.26 t NO_x. It meets heating needs even when the electrical equipment is at no-load.

Keywords: transformer waste heat; heat pump; energy analysis; exergy analysis; economic analysis; environmental analysis; coefficient of performance; COP; annual net profits; ANP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2025.150742

International Journal of Exergy, 2025 Vol.48 No.4, pp.323 - 337

Received: 09 May 2025
Accepted: 14 Aug 2025
Published online: 22 Dec 2025 *

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