A small ammonia heat pump using linear compressor

Nibin Qian, Chunhui Yang, Zhaohua Li, Kun Liang, Zhennan Zhu and Xinwen Chen

Energy, 2024, vol. 293, issue C

Abstract: The electrification of space heating and hot water via heat pumps is a widely pursued policy aim but field trials demonstrate poorer seasonal performance than anticipated. Linear compressors without crank mechanism can be oil-free. The potential for capacity modulation by adjusting the compressor stroke offers significant advantages over traditional methods including on-off control and variable frequency given that heat pumps operate at part load most of time. R717 (ammonia) has superior latent heat which offers a higher heating capacity compared to R134a, making it a very promising refrigerant for small heat pumps but there is no compatible compressor due to corrosivity. This paper introduces a novel small ammonia heat pump using an oil-free linear compressor technology that is compatible with R717. A numerical model was established to predict the heat pump baseline performance. The outcomes show a linear relation for specific power input, heating capacity, and Coefficient of Performance (COP) against ambient temperature. The system can achieve COP of 2 when ambient temperature is 0 °C. With linear compressor, there will be no on-off cycling for heat pumps so that the seasonal COP will be significantly higher than on-off control and variable frequency drive systems.

Keywords: Oil-free; Linear compressor; R717; Heat pump; Performance; Modelling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:293:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224005395

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.130767

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