Thermodynamic Analysis of Two Types of Compressors Applied to Household Heat Pump Water Heaters

DOI: 10.18462/iir.compr.2017.0239

Session: Reciprocating compressors I. Chaired by Heinz Juergenssen, Liutauras Vaitkus, Cesar J Deschamps

Accept state: Submission accepted

Authors

Abstract

The use of heat pumps for domestic water heating has substantially increased over the last five years and, as the regulations become increasingly restrictive, much effort is required in their design. The main issues in the development of compressors for this application are the requirements of low power consumption and high-pressure ratio associated with the needed high condensing temperatures and low evaporating temperatures typical of cold climates. The efficiency of a heat pump water heater is affected by the compressor type, but few comparative studies are available in the literature. This paper reports a comparative study of thermodynamic performance of the two mostly common compressors applied to heat pumps for domestic water heating, namely, the reciprocating compressor and the rolling-piston compressor, based on their indicator diagrams and inventory of thermodynamic losses.

Keywords

Reciprocating compressors, Rolling piston compressor, heat pump.