Theoretical Evaluation of Energy, Exergy, and Minimum Superheat in a High-Temperature Heat Pump with Low GWP Refrigerants

Adam Sulaiman; Donal Cotter; Cordin Arpagaus; Neil Hewitt

doi:10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2023.06.001

Theoretical Evaluation of Energy, Exergy, and Minimum Superheat in a High-Temperature Heat Pump with Low GWP Refrigerants

Adam Sulaiman
, Donal Cotter
, Cordin Arpagaus
, Neil Hewitt

Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

295 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Suitable low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants that conform to F-gas regulations are fundamental to the operation and future development of high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) used for industrial processes and waste heat recovery. This paper presents the results of a theoretical simulation to investigate a range of low-GWP refrigerants and their suitability to supersede refrigerants HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc. A steady-state thermodynamic model of a single-stage HTHP with an internal heat exchanger (IHX) was developed to assess system cycle characteristics and performance at temperature setpoints at 60 and 70°C heat source, 90 and 140°C heat sink, at 30 and 70 K lift. This study focuses on energetic and exergetic efficiencies within the system and the impact of regulating superheat to optimise performance. Based on energetic and exergetic theoretical results, a trade-off between COP, VHC, and exergetic efficiency indicates HCFO-1233zd(E) and HFO-1336mzz(Z) as the most likely replacements for HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc respectively. The refrigerant HC-601, followed by HFO-1336mzz(Z) and HCFO-1233zd(E), exhibited the lowest exergetic destruction within test conditions. Mapping the minimum superheat indicated optimum performance for HCFO-1233zd(E) between 5 to 8 K and HFO-1336mzz(Z) between 17 to 22 K, depending on temperature lift. Validation of the theoretical results with experimental data indicates that simulated COP closely matches empirical values. This work provides a method to optimise refrigerant selection in HTHPs based on operational indicators to maximise overall system performance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	99-109
Number of pages	11
Journal	International Journal of Refrigeration
Volume	153
Early online date	2 Jun 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2023.06.001
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 25 Sept 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland, EP/T022981/1 ) DEcarbonisation of Low TemperAture Process Heat Industry, DELTA PHI and EP/R045496/1 Low Temperature Heat Recovery and Distribution Network Technologies (LoT-NET).

Funding Information:
In addition, the financial support of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE as part of the SWEET ( SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition ) project DeCarbCH ( www.sweet-decarb.ch ) and the project Annex 58 HTHP-CH (Contract number SI/502336-01) are gratefully acknowledged.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023

Funding

Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland, EP/T022981/1 ) DEcarbonisation of Low TemperAture Process Heat Industry, DELTA PHI and EP/R045496/1 Low Temperature Heat Recovery and Distribution Network Technologies (LoT-NET). Funding Information: In addition, the financial support of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE as part of the SWEET ( SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition ) project DeCarbCH ( www.sweet-decarb.ch ) and the project Annex 58 HTHP-CH (Contract number SI/502336-01) are gratefully acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: © 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

High-temperature heat pump
minimum superheat
Energy & exergy efficiency
Low GWP refrigerants

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2023.06.001Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S0140700723001500-main (1)Final published version, 6.45 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Theoretical Evaluation of Energy, Exergy, and Minimum Superheat in a High-Temperature Heat Pump with Low GWP Refrigerants",

abstract = "Suitable low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants that conform to F-gas regulations are fundamental to the operation and future development of high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) used for industrial processes and waste heat recovery. This paper presents the results of a theoretical simulation to investigate a range of low-GWP refrigerants and their suitability to supersede refrigerants HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc. A steady-state thermodynamic model of a single-stage HTHP with an internal heat exchanger (IHX) was developed to assess system cycle characteristics and performance at temperature setpoints at 60 and 70°C heat source, 90 and 140°C heat sink, at 30 and 70 K lift. This study focuses on energetic and exergetic efficiencies within the system and the impact of regulating superheat to optimise performance. Based on energetic and exergetic theoretical results, a trade-off between COP, VHC, and exergetic efficiency indicates HCFO-1233zd(E) and HFO-1336mzz(Z) as the most likely replacements for HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc respectively. The refrigerant HC-601, followed by HFO-1336mzz(Z) and HCFO-1233zd(E), exhibited the lowest exergetic destruction within test conditions. Mapping the minimum superheat indicated optimum performance for HCFO-1233zd(E) between 5 to 8 K and HFO-1336mzz(Z) between 17 to 22 K, depending on temperature lift. Validation of the theoretical results with experimental data indicates that simulated COP closely matches empirical values. This work provides a method to optimise refrigerant selection in HTHPs based on operational indicators to maximise overall system performance.",

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author = "Adam Sulaiman and Donal Cotter and Cordin Arpagaus and Neil Hewitt",

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AU - Arpagaus, Cordin

AU - Hewitt, Neil

N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland, EP/T022981/1 ) DEcarbonisation of Low TemperAture Process Heat Industry, DELTA PHI and EP/R045496/1 Low Temperature Heat Recovery and Distribution Network Technologies (LoT-NET). Funding Information: In addition, the financial support of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE as part of the SWEET ( SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition ) project DeCarbCH ( www.sweet-decarb.ch ) and the project Annex 58 HTHP-CH (Contract number SI/502336-01) are gratefully acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: © 2023

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N2 - Suitable low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants that conform to F-gas regulations are fundamental to the operation and future development of high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) used for industrial processes and waste heat recovery. This paper presents the results of a theoretical simulation to investigate a range of low-GWP refrigerants and their suitability to supersede refrigerants HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc. A steady-state thermodynamic model of a single-stage HTHP with an internal heat exchanger (IHX) was developed to assess system cycle characteristics and performance at temperature setpoints at 60 and 70°C heat source, 90 and 140°C heat sink, at 30 and 70 K lift. This study focuses on energetic and exergetic efficiencies within the system and the impact of regulating superheat to optimise performance. Based on energetic and exergetic theoretical results, a trade-off between COP, VHC, and exergetic efficiency indicates HCFO-1233zd(E) and HFO-1336mzz(Z) as the most likely replacements for HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc respectively. The refrigerant HC-601, followed by HFO-1336mzz(Z) and HCFO-1233zd(E), exhibited the lowest exergetic destruction within test conditions. Mapping the minimum superheat indicated optimum performance for HCFO-1233zd(E) between 5 to 8 K and HFO-1336mzz(Z) between 17 to 22 K, depending on temperature lift. Validation of the theoretical results with experimental data indicates that simulated COP closely matches empirical values. This work provides a method to optimise refrigerant selection in HTHPs based on operational indicators to maximise overall system performance.

AB - Suitable low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants that conform to F-gas regulations are fundamental to the operation and future development of high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) used for industrial processes and waste heat recovery. This paper presents the results of a theoretical simulation to investigate a range of low-GWP refrigerants and their suitability to supersede refrigerants HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc. A steady-state thermodynamic model of a single-stage HTHP with an internal heat exchanger (IHX) was developed to assess system cycle characteristics and performance at temperature setpoints at 60 and 70°C heat source, 90 and 140°C heat sink, at 30 and 70 K lift. This study focuses on energetic and exergetic efficiencies within the system and the impact of regulating superheat to optimise performance. Based on energetic and exergetic theoretical results, a trade-off between COP, VHC, and exergetic efficiency indicates HCFO-1233zd(E) and HFO-1336mzz(Z) as the most likely replacements for HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc respectively. The refrigerant HC-601, followed by HFO-1336mzz(Z) and HCFO-1233zd(E), exhibited the lowest exergetic destruction within test conditions. Mapping the minimum superheat indicated optimum performance for HCFO-1233zd(E) between 5 to 8 K and HFO-1336mzz(Z) between 17 to 22 K, depending on temperature lift. Validation of the theoretical results with experimental data indicates that simulated COP closely matches empirical values. This work provides a method to optimise refrigerant selection in HTHPs based on operational indicators to maximise overall system performance.

KW - High-temperature heat pump

KW - minimum superheat

KW - Energy & exergy efficiency

KW - Low GWP refrigerants

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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2023.06.001

DO - 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2023.06.001

M3 - Article

SN - 0140-7007

VL - 153

SP - 99

EP - 109

JO - International Journal of Refrigeration

JF - International Journal of Refrigeration

ER -

Theoretical Evaluation of Energy, Exergy, and Minimum Superheat in a High-Temperature Heat Pump with Low GWP Refrigerants

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Numerical and experimental study of subcritical and transcritical high-temperature heat pump systems for industrial applications with low-GWP refrigerants

Cite this

Theoretical Evaluation of Energy, Exergy, and Minimum Superheat in a High-Temperature Heat Pump with Low GWP Refrigerants

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Student theses

Numerical and experimental study of subcritical and transcritical high-temperature heat pump systems for industrial applications with low-GWP refrigerants

Cite this