Development of high efficiency window air conditioner using propane under limited charge

Shen, Bo; Fricke, Brian

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114662

Title: Development of high efficiency window air conditioner using propane under limited charge

Full Record
Other Related Research

Abstract

The residential air conditioner market has a significant portion of window air conditioners (WAC). Due to the compact size and small refrigerant charge, WACs are most tolerant of flammable refrigerants. Hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants are natural substances and have significantly better environmental impacts and lower costs than conventional refrigerants like R-410A and R-22. The paper aimed to develop a WAC prototype using propane (R-290) and verify the performance metrics in the laboratory. The key of developing the WAC using a flammable refrigerant is to control the refrigerant charge under the limit of building safety regulation with the performance meeting the Energy Star standard. To minimize the charge, compact heat exchangers were utilized. To achieve the target efficiency, we collaborated with a leading rotary compressor manufacturer to develop a compressor prototype specifically optimized for R-290, able to achieve superior energy efficiency. In addition, we conducted model-based investigations to identify further charge reduction potential. Finally, with using microchannel heat exchangers to replace the fin-and-tube condenser and evaporator, the system charge can be decreased to 150 g.

Authors:

^[1];

^[1]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Building Technologies Research and Integration Center

Publication Date:: Sat Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2019

Research Org.:: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1649540

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1780251

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Applied Thermal Engineering

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 166; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1359-4311

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 42 ENGINEERING; Propane; Window air conditioner; Refrigerant charge reduction; Compact heat exchangers

Citation Formats


                    Shen, Bo, and Fricke, Brian. Development of high efficiency window air conditioner using propane under limited charge.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114662.

Copy to clipboard


                    Shen, Bo, & Fricke, Brian. Development of high efficiency window air conditioner using propane under limited charge.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114662

Copy to clipboard


                    Shen, Bo, and Fricke, Brian. Sat .  
"Development of high efficiency window air conditioner using propane under limited charge".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114662.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1649540.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_1649540,

  title        = {Development of high efficiency window air conditioner using propane under limited charge},

  author       = {Shen, Bo and Fricke, Brian},

  abstractNote = {The residential air conditioner market has a significant portion of window air conditioners (WAC). Due to the compact size and small refrigerant charge, WACs are most tolerant of flammable refrigerants. Hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants are natural substances and have significantly better environmental impacts and lower costs than conventional refrigerants like R-410A and R-22. The paper aimed to develop a WAC prototype using propane (R-290) and verify the performance metrics in the laboratory. The key of developing the WAC using a flammable refrigerant is to control the refrigerant charge under the limit of building safety regulation with the performance meeting the Energy Star standard. To minimize the charge, compact heat exchangers were utilized. To achieve the target efficiency, we collaborated with a leading rotary compressor manufacturer to develop a compressor prototype specifically optimized for R-290, able to achieve superior energy efficiency. In addition, we conducted model-based investigations to identify further charge reduction potential. Finally, with using microchannel heat exchangers to replace the fin-and-tube condenser and evaporator, the system charge can be decreased to 150 g.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114662},

  journal      = {Applied Thermal Engineering},

  number       = 1,

  volume       = 166,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Sat Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2019},

  month        = {Sat Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2019}

}

Copy to clipboard

Journal Article:

Free Publicly Available Full Text

Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Publisher's Version of Record

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114662

Other availability

Search WorldCat to find libraries that may hold this journal

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 8 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Similar Records in DOE PAGES and OSTI.GOV collections:

Select Components and Finish System Design of a Window Air Conditioner with Propane

Technical Report Shen, Bo ; Abdelaziz, Omar

This report describes the technical targets for developing a high efficiency window air conditioner (WAC) using propane (R-290). The baseline unit selected for this activity is a GE R-410A WAC. We established collaboration with a Chinese rotary compressor manufacturer, to select an R-290 compressor. We first modelled and calibrated the WAC system model using R-410A. Next, we applied the calibrated system model to design the R-290 WAC, and decided the strategies to reduce the system charge below 260 grams and achieve the capacity and efficiency targets.
https://doi.org/10.2172/1355889

Full Text Available
A Propane Hydronic Heat Pump with Energy Storage

Conference Shen, Bo ; Li, Zhenning ; Wan, Hanlong ; ...

Propane is an environment-friendly refrigerant, having a 20-year GWP (global warming potential) of 0.072 and a 100-year GWP of 0.02, as compared to R-410A having a GWP > 2000. It has superior thermodynamic cycle performance and heat transfer characteristics. However, propane is classified as a A3 refrigerant, which is highly flammable, and not allowed to be used indoor if the system charge is higher than 150 grams. It is a challenge to use propane in residential applications requiring a rated capacity larger than 10 k Watts. A hydronic heat pump, i.e., containing propane in an outdoor unit and distributing themore »« less
Full Text Available
Low GWP Refrigerants Modelling Study for a Room Air Conditioner Having Microchannel Heat Exchangers

Conference Shen, Bo ; Bhandari, Mahabir S

Microchannel heat exchangers (MHX) have found great successes in residential and commercial air conditioning applications, being compact heat exchangers, to reduce refrigerant charge and material cost. This investigation aims to extend the application of MHXs in split, room air conditioners (RAC), per fundamental heat exchanger and system modelling. For this paper, microchannel condenser and evaporator models were developed, using a segment-to-segment modelling approach. The microchannel heat exchanger models were integrated to a system design model. The system model is able to predict the performance indices, such as cooling capacity, efficiency, sensible heat ratio, etc. Using the calibrated system and heatmore »« less
Impacts of common faults on an air conditioner with a microtube condenser and analysis of fault characteristic features

Journal Article Hu, Yifeng ; Yuill, David P. - Energy and Buildings

Split system air conditioners are widely used to cool residential buildings, because of their low cost and simplicity. However, their efficiency is impacted by installation faults, which include: improper refrigerant charge (undercharge or overcharge), improper evaporator airflow, liquid line restrictions (LL), and the presence of non-condensable gas (NC) in the refrigerant. No known previously published research has studied the effect of these four faults on a system equipped with a microtube condenser, which has smaller tube size than a traditional condenser and therefore holds less refrigerant charge, but has a different configuration than a microchannel. Furthermore, very few have studiedmore »« less
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111630

Full Text Available
Low-GWP Refrigerant Evaluation in AC Systems for High Ambient Temperature Applications – Acquire Nortek Residential AC/HP Units for Evaluation and Model the Units Using HPDM

Technical Report Shen, Bo

For the upcoming refrigerant transition from HFCs to minorly flammable HFO refrigerants (A2L), refrigerant charge reduction is important to mitigate the fire hazard. Microchannel heat exchangers (MHXs) are a mature technology, which is effective in reducing system charge while maintaining similar heat transfer performance. MHXs will be applied more widely when the new refrigerants are used. Prior studies of the A2L HFO blends were mostly focused on fin-and-tube coils (FTC). An in-depth study for an air conditioner (AC)/heat pump (HP) system using all microchannel heat exchangers is still lacking. In FY19, a side-to-side comparison will be conducted between two residentialmore »« less
https://doi.org/10.2172/1564228

Full Text Available

Similar Records