SIMULATION AND PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE SEA WATER SOURCE TANDEM HEAT PUMPS

Abstract

The sea water is one of promising heat sink or source for a heat pump throughout the year. In order to utilize the sea water as a heat sink or source, tandem heat pumps, which are composed of two or more heat pumps in series, were investigated by simulation and preliminary experiments. For a preliminary experiment, a 2-tandem heat pump which has a rated capacity of 16 kW was designed and installed. Each single-unit heat pump has a HFC-134a reciprocating compressor which has a displacement of 16.2m3/h at 1750 RPM, brazed plate type evaporator and condenser and an electronic expansion valve. An experimental was designed and built. A heating performance test was carried out at the heat source inlet temperature range from 5 to 20°C and at the heating supply temperature range from 50 to 60°C. The experimental results show that the 2-tandem heat pump is cable of providing hot water of 60°C with a heating COP of higher than 3.1, which is approximately 15% greater than the heating COP of conventional heat pumps.tigated by simulation and preliminary experiments. For a preliminary experiment, a 2-tandem heat pump which has a rated capacity of 16 kW was designed and installed. Each single-unit heat pump has a HFC-134a reciprocating compressor which has a displacement of 16.2m3/h at 1750 RPM, brazed plate type evaporator and condenser and an electronic expansion valve. An experimental was designed and built. A heating performance test was carried out at the heat source inlet temperature range from 5 to 20°C and at the heating supply temperature range from 50 to 60°C. The experimental results show that the 2-tandem heat pump is cable of providing hot water of 60°C with a heating COP of higher than 3.1, which is approximately 15% greater than the heating COP of conventional heat pumps.