Linked modelling of heat pump water heater vapor compression system and water tank.

Number: pap. 2431

Author(s) : SHAH T., HRNJAK P.

Summary

Heat pump water heaters (HWPHs) in the U.S. market are commonly designed as “drop-in” replacements for conventional water heating systems involving a close integration of the vapor compression system and the water storage tank. The design of interest is this study is the wrap-around condenser HPWH. The dynamic interdependence between the vapor compression system and the water in the storage tank poses a modelling challenge for steady-state refrigeration system models. The aim of this project is to a model and methodology for coupling steady-state vapor compression system modelling with a dynamic condenser cooling medium. Consequently, a steady-state vapor compression system model is developed in Engineering Equation Solver (EES), and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed in ANSYS Fluent for simulating the heat transfer and fluid dynamics in the water tank. The linked modelling process involves iteration between the CFD model of the water tank and the vapor compression system model in describing quasi-steady warm up of a heat pump water heating system. The models are connected at the interface of the tank wall and the water in the storage tank. Experimental validation of this modelling is underway. As overall system performance is influenced by profiles of water temperature and velocity in the tank and refrigerant in the condenser, a wholesome understanding of heat distribution and fluid dynamics in the water tank can enable future design evaluations of various condenser coil architectures, component sizings, and refrigerants.

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Format PDF

Pages: 10 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Linked modelling of heat pump water heater vapor compression system and water tank.
  • Record ID : 30013281
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2014 Purdue Conferences. 15th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2014/07/14

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