Steady-state refrigerant flow and airflow control experiments conducted on a continuously variable speed air-to-air heat pump

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7063768

Miller, W A

A continuously variable speed air-to-air split-system residential heat pump of nominal 2 3/4-ton (9.7-kW) capacity was instrumented and tested in the laboratory. The coefficient of performance (COP), capacity of the system, and component efficiencies were measured during steady-state heating- and cooling-mode operation. The indoor blower speed and the refrigerant subcooling at the condenser exit were varied at discrete compressor speeds to determine best COP as constrained by residence comfort requirements. Heating- and cooling-mode test results showed a 10% improvement in COP for operation with a variable area throttle as compared with a capillary tube throttle. Improved control of refrigerant flow and reduction of the indoor blower speed improved humidity control. As compared with results for capillary tube flow control, the sensible heat ratio was reduced from 0.95 to 0.77 at 15-Hz compressor speed. 6 refs., 12 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 7063768
• Report Number(s): CONF-870620-12; ON: DE89001931
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
AIR FLOW
BUILDINGS
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
DATA
EFFICIENCY
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS FLOW
HEAT PUMPS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
REFRIGERANTS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
WORKING FLUIDS