Share

Low cost heat pump water heater (HPWH).

Author(s) : MEI V. C., BAXTER V. D., LAMB D. S.

Summary

Two low cost HPWH designs based on the immersed direct heat exchanger (IDX) condenser concept were developed and subjected to experimental evaluations. The initial concept achieved a laboratory measured energy factor of 1.79 and an average COP of 1.75 in a field test. It, however, required a modification of the standard water tank design to enable insertion of the IDX condenser into the tank. This was a problematic issue from the standpoint of added cost and lack of interest by water heater tank manufacturers. Therefore it was abandoned and a second design concept pursued that requires no modification of the tank. A laboratory proof-of-concept prototype HPWH based on the newer design achieved an energy factor of 2.02, 2.24 times higher than typical values for current electric water heaters. This result was achieved using a single wall immersed condenser design for the proof-of-concept lab tests. It is recognized that codes require that refrigerant-to-water heat exchangers in contact with potable water must be of a double-wall design. However, the test results show that the IDX concept is capable of yielding a HPWH design with reasonably high efficiency. The next phase of the work will focus on developing a workable double-wall condenser design and verifying HPWH performance with double wall condenser.

Available documents

Format PDF

Available

  • Public price

    20 €

  • Member price*

    15 €

* Best rate depending on membership category (see the detailed benefits of individual and corporate memberships).

Details

  • Original title: Low cost heat pump water heater (HPWH).
  • Record ID : 2008-2281
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2006 Purdue Conferences. 18th International Compressor Engineering Conference at Purdue & 11th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference at Purdue [CD-ROM].
  • Publication date: 2006/07/17

Links


See other articles from the proceedings (157)
See the conference proceedings

Indexing