Optimization design analysis on sodium chloride solution evaporative crystallization system driven by high-temperature heat pump

Industrial crystallization is an essential procedure for food, chemistry, and seawater desalination, whereas it accompanies with considerable energy consumption. Although the mechanical vapor recompression serves as an effective tool for heat recovery, it cannot adapt to the lower evaporation temperatures of crystallization process (45–90 °C). To address the above issues, this paper proposed a composited system consisting of high-temperature heat pump and draft tube baffle evaporative crystallizer, which can achieve higher energy efficiency. The coupling mathematical model is solved through the Newton iterative method. The optimized input parameter is determined based on thermal analysis, and the coefficient of performance can reach 5.85. Moreover, the system employs R1234ze as the working medium, achieving the minimum total heat exchange area of 19.27 m². Simultaneously, this system with different evaporation capacities exhibit similar cycle rates, approximately 58.3. After the system is constructed, the energy-saving and economic evaluation is performed. The result indicates that the system demonstrates an annual carbon dioxide emission reduction about 550 tons, an annual cost reduction of 221,718 CNY, and a dynamic payback period of only 0.89 years, presenting significant economic advantages. By this study, it provides some theoretical guidance for practical engineering applications.