Rankine/Rankine cycle gas-fired heat pump. Final report Mar 79-Mar 82

Technical Report · Wed Jun 30 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6623362

Enbar, E; Moriarty, R

A Rankine/Rankine cycle gas-fired heat pump was developed for residential application. The system consists of two rotating elements: a high-speed turbomachine core and a low-speed assembly, which includes a rotating vapor generator and heat exchangers. Inherent in the rotation of these components is the elimination of separate pumps, fans, reversing valves, and expansion valves. One Rankine cycle, the power cycle, drives the turbine and gives up its excess heat to the service air. The second Rankine cycle, the refrigerant cycle, is pressurized by a turbine-powered centrifugal compressor. The dual-cycle system uses two organic heat transfer fluids. The power cycle uses a developmental, moderate-temperature fluid (designated Fluid B), and the refrigeration cycle uses Freon R-113. These two fluids are compatible and missible in each other. Therefore, positive seals are not required. A laboratory prototype model was developed to the point of initiating proof-of-concept demonstration. A conceptual design study of an end-product model was conducted, and a product specification for a family of heat pump systems with various performance enhancement options was generated. The maximum realizable performance end-product heat pump system has a projected overall coefficient of performance (OCOP) of 0.79 at 37,500 Btu/hr cooling and an OCOP of 1.49 at 60,000 Btu/hr heating load. This end-product model has an estimated manufacturing cost of $1460 (in 1982 dollars) and could be available as a commercial product in the early 1990s.

• Research Organization: Mechanical Technology, Inc., Latham, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6623362
• Report Number(s): PB-82-254640
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
HEAT PUMPS
RANKINE CYCLE
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
COMPRESSORS
COST
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
REFRIGERANTS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
VAPOR GENERATORS
BOILERS
BUILDINGS
FLUIDS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
WORKING FLUIDS
320101* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Residential Buildings- (-1987)