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Experimental analysis of an air-source transcritical CO2 heat pump water heater using the hot gas bypass defrosting method

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 02:17 authored by Hu, B, Xiaolin WangXiaolin Wang, Cao, F, He, Z, Xing, Z
When an air-source CO2 heat pump water heater operates at low ambient temperatures in cold regions in winter, frost can form on the coil surface of its outdoor evaporator. The frost substantially affects the operating performance and energy efficiency of CO2 heat pump water heaters and hence periodic defrosting is essential. In this paper, defrosting characteristics of an air-source CO2 heat pump water heater using the hot gas bypass defrosting method is experimentally studied at different ambient conditions. An experimental setup is developed for this purpose and experimental procedures are detailed. Thereafter, the pressure and temperature in the outdoor evaporator, at the compressor and gas cooler outlets are evaluated during the defrosting period. An energy analysis is then performed of different system components during the defrosting process. Results indicate that 35% of the supplied energy is used for melting the frost, and 7.6% is used to heat the evaporator tubes and fins. About 57.4% of the supplied energy is consumed to increase the internal energy of the gas cooler. The typical efficiency of the hot gas bypass defrosting method applied in the CO2 heat pump water heater ranges from 30 to 40%. It increases with increasing dry bulb temperature, and decreasing relative humidity.

History

Publication title

Applied Thermal Engineering

Volume

71

Pagination

528-535

ISSN

1359-4311

Department/School

School of Engineering

Publisher

Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd

Place of publication

The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Ox5 1Gb

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Elsevier

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Energy efficiency not elsewhere classified

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