TR2015-072

A comparison of transient heat pump cycle simulations with homogeneous and heterogeneous flow models


    •  Laughman, C.R., Qiao, H., Aute, V., Radermacher, R., "A Comparison of Transient Heat Pump Cycle Simulations with Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Flow Models", Science and Technology for the Built Environment, DOI: 10.1080/​23744731.2015.1040342, Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 666-680, May 2015.
      BibTeX TR2015-072 PDF
      • @article{Laughman2015jun,
      • author = {Laughman, C.R. and Qiao, H. and Aute, V. and Radermacher, R.},
      • title = {A Comparison of Transient Heat Pump Cycle Simulations with Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Flow Models},
      • journal = {Science and Technology for the Built Environment},
      • year = 2015,
      • volume = 21,
      • number = 5,
      • pages = {666--680},
      • month = may,
      • publisher = {Science and Technology for the Built Environment},
      • doi = {10.1080/23744731.2015.1040342},
      • issn = {2374-4731},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2015-072}
      • }
  • MERL Contacts:
  • Research Area:

    Data Analytics

Abstract:

This paper compares the effects of two different refrigerant flow modeling assumptions on the transient performance of vapor-compression heat pump cycles. This comparison is done on a dynamic system-level model of a flash tank vapor injection cycle that includes finite volume heat exchanger models. The effect of the flow assumptions and specific slip ratio correlations on both the equilibrium operating point and the transient behavior of the cycle are demonstrated through both simulations and experiments. It is shown that equivalent simulations with different slip ratio correlations each have different equilibrium mass inventories, and that some aspects of the dynamic system behavior, such as the suction superheat or pressure transients, exhibit significant differences both in simulations and in comparison to experimental data.