GEA meVap® Compression

GEA’s meVap® system is an industrial heat pump solution based on proven Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) technology. GEA meVap® Compression supports the electrification of industrial steam generation by using recovered process. By tapping into waste heat and electrifying thermal processes, we help customers transition to efficient, and resilient operations.

Electrified steam generation with GEA meVap® Compression. 

Across energy intensive industries, a significant share of the energy used in production is still lost as low grade waste heat—whether in the form of exhaust vapors, warm process liquids, or wastewater. In many cases, this thermal energy must even be cooled down with additional energy before it can be released to the environment.

GEA enables customers to unlock this vast and often untapped potential. With meVap® Compression, GEA’s steam-producing high-temperature heat pump, we transform waste heat into valuable process steam—supporting reduced fossil-fuel use and improved heat integration where the process conditions allow.

How does GEA Support electrified steam generation?

With meVap® Compression, GEA supports industrial customers in:

• Reducing energy consumption and lowering dependency on fossil fuels
• Reusing waste heat for internal or external steam demands
• Improving plant energy performance through heat recovery and process-specific heat integration

By combining process heat recovery with electrically driven compression, GEA meVap® Compression can support the transition from fossil-based to electrified steam supply, depending on the electricity source and site-specific process conditions.

How does the meVap® Compression work?

GEA meVap® Compression is designed for low-temperature waste-heat streams and delivers steam at the pressure and temperature required for production processes.

1. Harvesting waste heat
The system extracts energy from warm liquids, dryer vapors, exhaust air, cooling water, or low-pressure steam. Even streams that are no longer usable for the original process often contain considerable recoverable energy. Depending on the available heat source, a heat pump can be integrated to improve overall energy use. If waste heat is contained in air or vapor streams, upstream gas cleaning may be required before the stream enters the high-temperature heat pump system.

2. Generating low pressure steam
Depending on the medium, falling film or forced circulation evaporators convert the recovered heat into low pressure steam. When wastewater is used as a source, an additional flashing step converts liquid into vapor.

3. Mechanical vapor recompression (MVR)
An electrically driven compressor draws in the steam and increases its pressure and temperature in a single or multi stage configuration. This raises the steam to a higher energy level, enabling it to be used directly as a heating medium.

4. Delivering high temperature process steam
The upgraded steam can partially or, depending on site conditions, fully substitute conventional fossil-based steam supply when suitable electricity and recoverable waste heat are available. The exact system layout is tailored to the available heat source, output requirements, and site conditions.

What are the key advantages of GEA meVap® Compression?

• Reduced primary energy demand through efficient heat recovery; CO₂ emissions may be reduced depending on the electricity source and process setup
• Lower consumption of fresh steam and cooling water, which can reduce operating costs depending on the application
• Compact and retrofit-friendly design to support integration into existing plants
• Industrial-scale technology supported by GEA’s decades of experience in evaporation, heat pumps, and MVR systems
• Operational reliability supported by automation, safety features, and GEA’s DynamicProcessTwin