TRANSIENT MODELLING AND CONTROL OF BRAYTON HIGH–TEMPERATURE HEAT PUMPS

Brayton HTHPs (Bra-HTHPs), are emerging as a key technology for decarbonizing industrial heat and integrating renewable energy. Unlike conventional heat pumps, Bra-HTHPs can provide process heat above 200°C, leveraging renewable electricity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This dissertation explores the transient performance and control strategies of Bra-HTHPs, focusing on two system configurations—non-recuperated and recuperated layouts. Detailed dynamic models are provided and applied to examine operational scenarios like cold startups and abrupt thermal load variations. Two control methods—compressor speed and fluid inventory control—are compared for effectiveness. The findings aim to enhance Bra-HTHP deployment for renewable energy integration and industrial electrification.