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Investigating the performance of heat exchangers in absorption heat pump systems using both numerical and experimental methods

Wu, Zhangxiang; Jiang, Yan; Wang, Yaran; You, Shijun; Zhang, Huan; Liu, Sujie; Fan, Xianwang; ... Wei, Shen; + view all (2023) Investigating the performance of heat exchangers in absorption heat pump systems using both numerical and experimental methods. Energy Conversion and Management , 278 , Article 116744. 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.116744. Green open access

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Abstract

To achieve better heating efficiency and lower CO2 emission, this study has proposed an air source absorption heat pump system with a tube-finned evaporator, a vertical falling film absorber, and a generator. To analyze both heat and mass transfer performances and optimize the sizes of both the absorber and the generator, a distributed parameter model and a two-dimensional numerical model have been adopted, both validated. To develop an environmentally efficient working fluid pair for absorption heating for cold climate, a calculation method adopting fugacity and activity models was developed. The defrosting control strategy of this system was developed based on a spatial and temporal frost development model, which determines the characteristics of frost distribution, frost growth, and frost inhomogeneity. To evaluate the functionality of this system, a test rig was constructed, with a heating capacity of 36.88 kW, a coefficient of performance of 1.54 under evaporation temperature and supply water temperature of −9.2 °C and 38.4 °C, respectively. Validation results showed a 1.5 % higher prediction accuracy for the two-dimensional model with correction, comparing to the distributed parameter model. R134a-DMF and R161-DMF were recommended at an ambient temperature of −2 °C. This is because with ambient temperature of −7 °C and supply water temperature of 41 °C, the predicted coefficient of performance was 1.04 and 1.06 for R134a-DMF and R161-DMF, respectively. The frost prediction indicated that at the time of 3,600 s, the thickness of the frost layer in the heavy frost area was 0.94 mm, with a total frost mass of 3,995 g. Compared with the initial stage, the sensible and latent heat transfer rates decreased by 22.1 % and 24.2 %, respectively.

Type: Article
Title: Investigating the performance of heat exchangers in absorption heat pump systems using both numerical and experimental methods
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.116744
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.116744
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: Absorption heat pump, Heat exchanger, Numerical model, Working fluid pair, Frost distribution characteristic
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10164748
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