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Title: Improving heat pumps and air conditioning

Abstract

This article reports that the search for technological advances is focusing on refrigerant replacements, mobile air conditioning and vapor compression technologies, and absorption and geothermal heat pumps. Heat pumps are devices that use an energy input to take thermal energy from a low-temperature thermal source (such as air, water, or the ground) and move it to a thermal sink that is at a higher temperature than the source. Refrigerators, air conditioners, chillers, and cryocoolers function in the same manner as heat pumps in providing cooling, but are generally not called heat pumps. These heat-pumping systems have two major advantages over conventional technology. First, depending on the application, they can often deliver more than one unit of heating or cooling per unit of energy input required (i.e., they have a coefficient of performance value greater than 1). Second, they may be either heat-actuated or work-actuated. Heat-actuated heat pumps allow the use of lower-grade thermal energy, which might otherwise remain unused. In addition to lowering monetary costs, reducing the energy requirements for a particular process may help mitigate thermal pollution and environmental concerns. The advantages of heat-pump systems have long been recognized. Research into improving their performance, reliability, energy efficiency, and environmentalmore » impact has been an ongoing concern for industrial, governmental, and academic organizations. Investigations have centered on advanced cycle design for both heat- and work-actuated systems, improved components (including choice of working fluid), and use in a wider range of applications.« less

Authors:
;  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, ID (United States)
  2. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
  4. Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6013392
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Mechanical Engineering; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 115:9; Journal ID: ISSN 0025-6501
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; AIR CONDITIONERS; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; HEAT PUMPS; ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE; GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS; REFRIGERANTS; VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE; WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPS; FLUIDS; WORKING FLUIDS; 320106* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Building Equipment- (1987-)

Citation Formats

Braven, K D, Penoncello, S, Herold, K, Mei, Viung, and O'Neal, D. Improving heat pumps and air conditioning. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Braven, K D, Penoncello, S, Herold, K, Mei, Viung, & O'Neal, D. Improving heat pumps and air conditioning. United States.
Braven, K D, Penoncello, S, Herold, K, Mei, Viung, and O'Neal, D. 1993. "Improving heat pumps and air conditioning". United States.
@article{osti_6013392,
title = {Improving heat pumps and air conditioning},
author = {Braven, K D and Penoncello, S and Herold, K and Mei, Viung and O'Neal, D},
abstractNote = {This article reports that the search for technological advances is focusing on refrigerant replacements, mobile air conditioning and vapor compression technologies, and absorption and geothermal heat pumps. Heat pumps are devices that use an energy input to take thermal energy from a low-temperature thermal source (such as air, water, or the ground) and move it to a thermal sink that is at a higher temperature than the source. Refrigerators, air conditioners, chillers, and cryocoolers function in the same manner as heat pumps in providing cooling, but are generally not called heat pumps. These heat-pumping systems have two major advantages over conventional technology. First, depending on the application, they can often deliver more than one unit of heating or cooling per unit of energy input required (i.e., they have a coefficient of performance value greater than 1). Second, they may be either heat-actuated or work-actuated. Heat-actuated heat pumps allow the use of lower-grade thermal energy, which might otherwise remain unused. In addition to lowering monetary costs, reducing the energy requirements for a particular process may help mitigate thermal pollution and environmental concerns. The advantages of heat-pump systems have long been recognized. Research into improving their performance, reliability, energy efficiency, and environmental impact has been an ongoing concern for industrial, governmental, and academic organizations. Investigations have centered on advanced cycle design for both heat- and work-actuated systems, improved components (including choice of working fluid), and use in a wider range of applications.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6013392}, journal = {Mechanical Engineering; (United States)},
issn = {0025-6501},
number = ,
volume = 115:9,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}