Theoretical Study and Experimental Validation on the Applicable Refrigerant for Space Heating Air Source Heat Pump

Jinzhe Nie, Kaiqiao Wang, Xiangrui Kong (), Han Zhang and Shuai Zhang
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Jinzhe Nie: Beijing Key Lab of Heating, Gas Supply, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 102616, China
Kaiqiao Wang: Beijing Key Lab of Heating, Gas Supply, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 102616, China
Xiangrui Kong: Architectural Engineering College, North China Institute of Science and Technology, Sanhe 065201, China
Han Zhang: Jinmao Green Building Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100012, China
Shuai Zhang: China Academy of Building Research, Beijing 100029, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: The air source heat pump (ASHP) is developing rapidly and is widely used for space heating due to its potential for increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The choice of appropriate low global warming potential (GWP) alternative refrigerants is one of the challenges that ASHP systems face. Alternative refrigerants also affect the energy performance of these systems. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the performance of ASHP using environmentally friendly refrigerants to facilitate reasonable refrigerant selection. A theoretical model for simulating ASHP performance with different refrigerants is developed in this study. Experiments are conducted to validate the theoretical model. The simulation and the experimental results are found to be in good agreement. The ASHP performance indices, such as compression ratio (CR), discharging temperature (DT) and coefficients of performance (COP), are investigated using R22, R417A, R410A, R134a, R152a, R161 and R1234yf as working fluids. The results show that R152a has an average COP of 2.7% higher than R22, and R161 has an average COP of 1.4% higher than R22. R152a and R161 also have a higher CR but a lower DT than R22 under the same design conditions. In addition, R152a and R161 have ozone depletion potentials (ODP) of zero and extremely low GWPs; thus, they can be candidates to replace R22 in ASHP heating systems. This research provides a reference on refrigerant replacements for ASHP heating systems in North China.

Keywords: COP; air source heat pump; global warming potential; R152a; R161 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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