Advanced electric residential heat pump

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6210486

Veyo, S E

The heat pump concept being developed uses the vapor compression refrigeration cycle with R22 as the working fluid. In order to achieve the target efficiency an improved reciprocating compressor with modulatable capacity is being developed along with higher efficiency air movers, a breadboard microprocessor based control system and higher effectiveness heat exchangers. The relative proportions of the compressor, blower, fan, and heat exchangers are specified through system optimization to minimize annual ownership cost while constrained to provide comfort. The key to the potential commercial success of this system is the development of low cost compressor capacity modulation means. A compressor has been developed that uses an eccentric cam between crank pin and connecting rod to change the stroke of the piston upon a reversal in the direction of crankshaft rotation. The efficiency of this compressor is comparable to the best available while the ratio of minimum to maximum capacity can be selected as a parameter of optimization. The incremental cost of this compressor is estimated to be one third that of the compressor with two speed drive motor. An indoor blower 50% more efficient and an outdoor fan twice as efficient as current practice have been designed, built, and tested. A breadboard system has been built and is being tested to verify our analytical performance estimates and to develop the control software. A dual stroke compressor system has been optimized for DOE Region V. The estimated performance exceeds the target in DOE climate regions II, III, IV, and V and the estimated installed price is approximately 5% less than the heat pump of comparison. It is estimated that the heat pump will yield a HSPF of 8.0 and a SEER of 11.23 in Minneapolis and an HSPF of 9.5 and a SEER of 11.33 in Nashville. Analysis projects the 1990 market to be greater than 680,000 units.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Westinghouse Research and Development Center, Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6210486
• Report Number(s): CONF-810672-15; ON: DE81024134
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
BLOWERS
COMPRESSORS
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FLUIDS
HEAT PUMPS
MARKET
OPTIMIZATION
PERFORMANCE
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SPECIFICATIONS
VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
WORKING FLUIDS