Experimental study of a subcritical heat pump booster for sanitary hot water production using a subcooler in order to enhance the efficiency of the system with a natural refrigerant (R290). (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pitarch, Miquel; Navarro-Peris, Emilio; Gonzálvez-Maciá, José; Corberán, José M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of refrigeration. Volume 73(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Propane -- Heat pumps -- Natural refrigerants -- Sanitary hot water -- Subcooling; Propane -- Pompes à chaleur -- Frigorigènes naturels -- Eau chaude sanitaire -- Sous-refroidissement; Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery -- Periodicals; 621.56
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.08.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-7007

Abstract

Highlights: Experimental facilities for the characterization of heat pumps SHW were built. Subcooler increases the efficiency of a subcritical heat pump with high water lift. The approach is applied to water-to-water heat pump dedicated to energy recovery. This configuration reaches COPs significantly higher than without the subcooler. Abstract: This paper presents the experimental results obtained from a new heat pump prototype for sanitary hot water production, in the application of heat recovery from water sources like sewage water or condensation loops (typical temperature condition between 10 °C and 30 °C). The system configuration is able to produce a high degree of subcooling in order to take advantage from the high water temperature glide (typical value for sanitary hot water production is 10 °C to 60 °C). Subcooling is made by using a separate heat exchanger from the condenser (subcooler). The obtained results have shown a high degree of improvement by making subcooling. COP is 5.61 in nominal conditions, which is about 31% higher than the same cycle working without subcooling (Nominal point: inlet/outlet water temperature at evaporator is 20 °C/15 °C and the water inlet/outlet temperature in the heat sink is 10 °C and 60 °C).