Mechanical Heat Pump

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

ME 4382

Semester 7
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
University of Moratuwa
Sri Lanka

Name : H.M.D.P. Herath

Index No. : 150220V

Date of Submission : 2019.04.05

Due Date of Submission : 2019.03.22

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1. Abstract

Mechanical heat pumps are used to remove heat from low temperature heat source to a high
temperature heat source. Basically refrigeration cycle is used for the application. In this experiment
the behavior of a mechanical heat pump is studied using a test rig. The practical focus in to
comparing the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of mechanical heat pump. Also the COP of heat
pump and performance curves are studied. In the practical suction pressures of the compressor was
changed and relevant readings were taken for the instant. COP values were calculated theoretically
and using energy balance.

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2. Introduction

Heat pump is used to remove heat from a high temperature source and add it to a lower temperature
sink. According to the first law of thermodynamics it is impossible to transfer heat from a low
temperature to a high temperature. But from the second law it states that heat pumping can be done
by supplying additional work to the system. Basically there are two categories and they are divided
into two as heat pumps and refrigerators. Heat pumps are transferring heat from low temperature
sources to high temperature sinks and providing heating effect while refrigerators providing cooling
effect. Vapor compression cycle is the mainly used cycle for heat pumping and refrigeration
applications.

Heat pumps are applicable for space heating in cold countries and refrigeration systems are used to
provide cooling effect in hot countries. These heat pumps are used in food preservation, chemical
preservation, petroleum refineries, automobile industry and air conditioning systems. Further they
are mainly used in space heating applications where the temperatures should be maintained properly
in the conditioned space.

The main objectives of this practical are to, study mechanical heat pump based vapor compression
cycle, study coefficient of performance and performance curves of heat pump an to determine energy
balance for compressor an evaporator.

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3. Theory

The schematic diagram of a simple vapor compression refrigeration cycle is shown in the below
figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1. Vapor compression refrigeration cycle

For the apparatus used in practical the heat transfer equations can be written as follows,

 For a Vapor compression cycle,

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑟 ℎ2 −ℎ3
COP of Heat Pump = 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡
=
ℎ2 −ℎ1

 Assuming 100% isentropic efficiency for the compressor,

𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝐽)
Power Input =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑠)

 Rate of Heat Delivery = 𝑚𝑤 × 𝐶𝑤 × (𝑡6 − 𝑡5 )

𝑚𝑤 = Mass flow rate of water through condenser (kg/s)
𝐶𝑤 = Specific heat capacity of water (Jkg-1K-1)
𝑡6 − 𝑡5 = Temperature difference at inlet and outlet


𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝐷𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦
COP of Heat Pump =
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡


𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑(𝑄𝐿 )
COP of Heat Pump =
𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡
𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑(𝑄𝐿 )
=
𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑(𝑄𝐻 )−𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑(𝑄𝐿 )

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 For reversible process,

𝑄𝐻 𝑇𝐻
=
𝑄𝐿 𝑇𝐿

𝑇𝐻
Therefore, COP = ---------------- (01)
𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐿

4. Equipment

Apparatus:

P.A. Mechanical Heat Pump, Watt-Hour meter, Digital thermometers, Flow meters, Stop watch

Figure: Diagram of the heat pump system used in the

experiment
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5. Procedure

 Initially the water supply was turned on and then main switch of the experimental set up was
turned on.
 The fluid flow was allowed to get stabilized for some time and it was checked whether the
temperature and pressure conditions remained considerably constant.
 Delivery pressure of the compressor was set to 1100 kNm-2, then the pressure at the evaporator
was also observed from the pressure gauge.
 Afterwards the temperature readings of the refrigerant at the compressor (at suction & delivery),
condenser outlet and evaporator inlet were measured using digital thermometers.
 Temperature of water passing through the condenser was also measured similarly.
 The mass flow rates of the refrigerant and water were measured using respective flow meters.
 During the experiment, the time taken for 1 revolution of the wattmeter was measured using the
stop watch.
 Above procedure was carried out for different pressure values

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6. Calculations

 Sample calculation for test 1,

 Rate of heat delivery = Heat absorbed by water through the condenser
= 𝑚𝑤 𝐶𝑤 (𝑇6 − 𝑇5 )

= 29.41x 10-3 (kgs-1) x 4218 (Jkg-1K-1) x (43.8-28)K

= 1960.01W

𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
 Rate of work input =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑑
1
(720) 𝑥 1000 𝑥 3600 J
=
12 𝑆

= 416.67 W

Rate of heat delivery

 COP(experiment) =
Rate of work input

1960.01 W
=
416.67 W

= 4.7039

 Work input (∆h) = (ℎ2 − ℎ1 ) × 𝑚𝑟

= (380 − 362) kJ/kg × 9.5 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔/𝑠
= 171 𝑊

 Rate of heat loss from compressor = Rate of power input - Rate of work in put
= Win - (ℎ2 − ℎ1 ) × 𝑚𝑟
= 416.67 W – 171 W
= 245.67 W

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7. Results

Table 7.2: Summary of results from the calculations

Heat loss
Test Power input Compressor COP from the
h1 (kJ/kg) h2 (kJ/kg)
No. (W) Work (W) Values compressor
(W)

Test 1 362 380 416.67 171 4.66 245.67

Test 2 365 376 416.67 101 3.49 314.92

Test 3 363 377 454.55 126 3.06 328.55

Test 4 359 374 416.67 135 3.62 281.67

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 COP vs Water flow rate Graph
5.00

4.50

4.00
COP of heat pump

3.50

3.00

2.50

2.00
0.0050 0.0100 0.0150 0.0200 0.0250 0.0300 0.0350
Flow rate of water (kg/s)

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 Compressor heat loss vs Water flow rate Graph
350.00

300.00
Heat loss from Condensor (W)

250.00

200.00

150.00

100.00
0.0050 0.0100 0.0150 0.0200 0.0250 0.0300 0.0350
Flow rate of water (kg/s)

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8. Discussion

8.1. Effects of pressure drops in condenser and evaporator

Pressure drops is occurred in the components and ducts occurs as an effect of friction to the flow.
When pressure drop occurs in condenser boiling temperature of refrigerant falls so possibility to
have gas and vapor mixture in outlet increases. And refrigerant available for cooling in evaporator
drops and cooling effect reduces. When evaporator pressure drops refrigerant at outlet of evaporator
goes to superheated state. This effect will help in compressor operation as it is easy to compress gas
rather than gas liquid mixture. But as pressure drops compression ratio in compressor increases thus
compressor work also increases.

8.2. Sub-cooling after condensing and superheat at compressor

It is introduced sub cooling after condensing and super heating at compressor for a vapor
compression cycles which are performed to increase the performance of cycle. In sub cooling liquid
refrigerant at the outlet of condenser is subcooled to a lower temperature than saturation temperature
at constant pressure. This process will increase the refrigeration capacity of refrigerant because more
liquid refrigerant is available at the end of expansion process. Compressor work will not change
from the value obtained for system without sub cooling. So, the COP value of system goes up. But
for sub cooling of liquid larger heat exchanger should be fabricated which increases the design cost
and increases the space required for total system.
By super heating the refrigerant in outlet of evaporator, it can be increased the evaporation capacity
in evaporator and this ensures complete vaporization of the refrigerant in evaporator before entering
the compressor because existence of liquid refrigerant is undesirable to the performance of
compressor. by super heating usually compressor work increases. So, if super heating is done to
higher levels the compressor work might rise and as a result COP of the system may drop.

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8.3. Differences between actual vapor compression cycle and ideal cycle

In the ideal vapor compression cycle it has assumed that the compression is an isentropic process
and the pressure drops occurs in the system have neglected. Also During the expansion process it
has assumed that the expansion process is an adiabatic process. But actually it is not adiabatic and
heat transfer is happening in some extent.

8.4. Improvement of COP of a heat pump system

Some methods were able to identified to improve the COP value of refrigeration and air conditioning
system through this practical session.

 Sub-cooling: Refrigerant is sub-cooled within the condenser. There are advantages of this
method. They are refrigeration capacity and COP of the system goes up. Also, compressor
work will not be changed in this method.
 Superheating: Superheating at the end of the evaporator is the process of raising the
temperature of a fluid (refrigerant in this case) beyond its saturation temperature under
constant pressure. This will avoid entering liquid into the compressor which will increase
efficiency and life of the compressor. Also, this will increase the heat delivering capacity of
the refrigerant at the condenser. However, excessive superheating may increase the
compressor work and condenser capacity.
 Multi stage systems: This kind of vapor compression cycles have two or more pressure regions.
These systems can be classified in to three types. They are multi-compression, multi-
evaporator, and cascade systems. COP will increase in this type of systems.

8.5.Practical Errors that could happen in the laboratory exercise

During the practical there are many practical error can be happen.
 Temperature are taken outside the tubes and that may have a difference between
refrigerant and outside temperatures
 Pressure drop occur in the system may affect the performance and that could be an error
in the calculations

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9. Conclusion
Considering the results obtained from the experiment it can be stated that Coefficient of performance
of a heat pump decreases with the increment of compressor delivery pressure. A considerable
difference can be seen between the COP determined from the experiment and the Carnot efficiency
of the system. This shows that the performance can further be improved by choosing proper working
conditions such as the pressure ratio of the compressor. The heat loss from the compressor increases
with an increase in delivery pressure which is another reason for the observed reduction in COP.

10. References

[1]. Al-Rashed AA. “Effect of evaporator temperature on vapor compression refrigeration system”,
Alexandria Engineering Journal, 2011 vol.50(4) pp.283-290.
[2]. Brighthub Engineering. (2018). Subcooling And Superheating In Industrial Refrigeration.
[online] Available at: https://www.brighthubengineering.com/hvac/34725-refrigeration-
superheat-and-subcooling.
[3]. Brighthub Engineering. (2018). Subcooling And Superheating In Industrial Refrigeration.
[online] Available at: https://www.brighthubengineering.com/hvac/34725-refrigeration-
superheat-and-subcooling.

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