EMPHATICaL research presented at the 13th Distillation & Absorption conference (DA2026)
October 5, 2026
EMPHATICaL partner Lucas Poker from Delft University of Technology presented project research at the 13th Distillation & Absorption Conference (DA2026) in Salzburg, Austria, showcasing how Heat Pump Assisted Distillation (HPAD) can contribute to more energy efficient e-methanol purification.
As part of EMPHATICaL’s work on developing efficient pathways for e-methanol production, Lucas presented research on the selection of HPAD technologies and heat integration strategies for e-methanol purification. HPAD can electrify distillation while significantly reducing energy consumption, with potential energy savings of up to 80%.
The research compares a range of configurations, including Vapour Compression, Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR), Discretely Heat Integrated Distillation Column (D-HIDiC) and Compression Resorption Heat Pump (CRHP) assisted distillation. A techno-economic assessment is being used to evaluate these options, considering both their energy performance and the additional investment costs associated with integrating heat pump technologies.
The results presented at DA2026 contribute to EMPHATICaL’s broader objective of reducing the energy consumption and production costs associated with e-methanol production, while supporting the electrification of energy intensive industrial processes.
Held every four years, DA2026 brought together researchers and industry representatives working on distillation and absorption technologies, providing an opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss the latest developments in the field.