Data-driven compressor performance maps and cost correlations for small-scale heat-pumping applications

Andreas V. Olympios, Jian Song, Aleksander Ziolkowski, Vethalingam S. Shanmugam and Christos N. Markides

Energy, 2024, vol. 291, issue C

Abstract: The performance of vapour-compression heat pumps depends crucially upon compressor selection and design. In this work, a unified modelling framework is developed to enable technoeconomic comparisons of compressors intended for small-scale heating applications (<30 kWth). Published information on 120 commercially available compressors is analysed and used to develop performance maps that predict isentropic efficiency over a wide range of working conditions. Additionally, cost correlations are established to predict price as a function of nominal compressor inlet volumetric flowrate. When rotary-vane compressors are an available option (i.e., for inlet volumetric flowrates up to 5 ∙ 10−3 m3/s), they consistently achieve a high isentropic efficiency (∼70 %) for the investigated pressure ratios (1.5–9.5). Scroll compressors have an even higher isentropic efficiency (∼75 %) at pressure ratios below 5.5, but this drops to 50 % at higher pressure ratios, while the isentropic efficiency of reciprocating-piston compressors is best (∼75 %) at higher pressure ratios (5.5–7.5). Utilising an air-source heat pump model, the compressor types are compared for countries with different weather characteristics and electricity prices. Rotary-vane compressors are associated with the lowest levelised cost of heat, but the comparison largely depends on location and heating requirements.

Keywords: Compressor; Data-driven; Heat pump; Isentropic efficiency; Optimisation; Technoeconomic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:291:y:2024:i:c:s036054422303565x

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.130171

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