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Theoretical Performance Analysis of an Ejector Enhanced High-Temperature Heat Pump with Dual-Pressure Condensation and Evaporation

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Abstract

In this paper, an ejector enhanced high-temperature heat pump with dual-pressure condensation and evaporation is proposed to improve the system performance. Theoretical analyses of the system operation characteristics are conducted using energetic and exergetic methods. The performance comparisons among the basic cycle, parallel compression cycle, and ejector enhanced cycle are conducted with six different refrigerants, including R245fa, R600a, R1234ze(Z), R1336mzz(Z), R1224yd(Z), and R1233zd(E). The results demonstrate that environmentally-friendly refrigerant R1234ze(Z) would be a promising alternative refrigerant. Compared with the basic cycle and parallel compression cycle at selected operation conditions, 29.5% and 12.6% improvements in COP, and 16.7% and 11.1% higher system exergy efficiency are achieved in the ejector enhanced cycle on average. The volumetric heating capacity of the ejector enhanced cycle is increased by 15.7%–21.7%. The ejector enhanced cycle outperforms the other two cycles in high-temperature heat pump applications at the large temperature lift and temperature rise in the heat sink. The assessment offers an option to improve the energy utilization efficiency of the high-temperature heat pumps.

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Abbreviations

COP:

coefficient of performance

Ė :

exergy flow rate/kW

e :

specific exergy/kJ·kg−1

h :

specific enthalpy/kJ·kg−1

m :

mass flow rate/kg·s−1

P :

pressure/MPa

Q h :

heat load/kW

q v :

volumetric heating capacity/kJ·m−3

r P :

pressure lift ratio of an ejector

s :

specific entropy/kJ·kg−1·K−1

T :

temperature/°C

v :

specific volume/m3·kg−1

VR :

compressor displacement ratio

W :

power/kW

ε k :

exergy efficiency of system component

η :

efficiency

μ :

entrainment ratio

ξ k :

exergy destruction ratio of system component

com:

compressor

con:

condenser

D:

exergy destruction

d:

diffuser

eje:

ejector

ev:

evaporator

exp:

expansion valve

F:

exergy fuel

HP:

high-pressure evaporation/condensation

i:

inlet

ihx:

internal heat exchanger

is:

isentropic process

lift:

Temperature lift

LP:

low-pressure evaporation/condensation

n:

nozzle

o:

outlet

P:

exergy production

p:

primary flow

s:

secondary flow

sink:

heat sink

source:

heat source

sub:

subcooling state

sup:

superheating state

sys:

system

tot:

total

0:

reference condition

1–15:

state point

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Acknowledgments

This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under grant No. 51806160 and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (CPSF) under grant No. 2018M640982.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, **’an Jiaotong University, **’an, 710049, China

    Tao Bai, Ye Liu, Gang Yan & Jianlin Yu

Authors
  1. Tao Bai
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  2. Ye Liu
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  3. Gang Yan
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Correspondence to Tao Bai.

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Bai, T., Liu, Y., Yan, G. et al. Theoretical Performance Analysis of an Ejector Enhanced High-Temperature Heat Pump with Dual-Pressure Condensation and Evaporation. J. Therm. Sci. 31, 1367–1379 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-022-1588-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-022-1588-7

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