Experimental and theoretical analysis of a Solar Liquid Piston Pump

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3267687· OSTI ID:5061689

Murphy, C L; Brew-Hammoud, A

The Solar Liquid Piston Pump (SLPP) is driven by oscillations of an enclosed column of liquid Freon 113. Cyclic evaporation and condensation from heating and cooling coils at the top of the liquid column generate the oscillations. The frequency and amplitude of the oscillations are enhanced by momentum forces in the inlet, outlet, and working tubes. Three geometrically different experimental models of a SLPP have been tested. To optimize the performance of the SLPP, a theoretical model was required to account for the large number of interdependent parametres that could be varied. A semiemperical time-incremented computer model was developed. A theoretical cycle was assumed and the heat transfer and fluid friction coefficient adjusted, within reasonable limits, so that the theoretical pressurevolume diagrams agreed closely with experimental ones. Input parameters were then varied for the theoretical model and compared to experimental results available. The theoretical model successfully predicted performance trends of the SLPP.

• Research Organization: Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 5061689
• Journal Information: J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States), Vol. 107:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMPS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PERFORMANCE
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
FORECASTING
FREONS
OSCILLATIONS
AIR CONDITIONERS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING SYSTEMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
SIMULATION
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling