Department of Mechanical Engineering

AIR and WATER HEAT PUMP

Manual

MDB2063
ME Thermodynamics II

Jan 2018
 Introduction
The vapour compression cycle is the most common form of refrigeration, transferring heat from the area being
cooled to a higher temperature region. Heat Pumps use this effect to recover heat at a useful temperature for
heating or some other process by upgrading low grade ‘free’ heat e.g. from ambient air or water.
Due to concerns about the effects of global warming, awareness of energy conservation must increase and heat
pumps are an effective method of reducing energy consumption. Hence an understanding of their operation is
relevant to many engineering disciplines.
The Hilton Air and Water Heat Pump R831 is a purpose designed and fully instrumented machine operating on
ozone friendly R134a, which is not restricted under the terms of the Montreal Protocol.
The unit enables students to plot the pressure enthalpy and performance graphs as conditions are changed, so
enhancing their understanding of the theory.

Fig.2- Air and Water Heatschematic circuit

Description of the Unit

R134a refrigerant vapour is compressed in an hermetic compressor and then flows to a water cooled condenser.
Heat is transferred to cooling water and the refrigerant vapour is condensed to a high-pressure liquid which passes
through a thermostatic expansion valve.
A switch allows the user to direct the flow of the expanding vapour to an air or water source evaporator, where
heat is extracted and the cycle is repeated. In order to recover waste heat from the compressor, the condenser
cooling water also passes through a heat exchanger in the compressor casing. All components are mounted on a
glass reinforced plastic panel and base.
Instrumentation includes pressure gauges, flow-meters, thermocouples and wattmeter allowing students to record
all of the relevant parameters to create performance curves and refrigerant cycle diagrams.
The R831 incorporates mechanical fail safe over pressure cut out, together with a miniature circuit breaker and a
30mA residual current breaker for added protection.

SAFETY REGULATIONS

Users of Hilton Air and Water Heat Pump Lab. must comply with the following safety instructions.
 1. Smoking is not allowed inside the Lab.
2. Wear always over coat and safe shoes when you operate the machine.
3. Before operating the machine, you must be aware of the following
 How the machine operates: Read instruction or manual of the machine before operating it.
 How to turn off the machine in case of damages.
4. When you hear unusual noise or see leakage from the machine that you are using, stop the machine right
away.
5. Do not run inside the lab. Concentrate on the present task.

SYMBOLS AND UNITS

Symbol Designation Unit (S.I.)

Cp Specific Heat Capacity Jkg-1 K-1
Q Heat Transfer Rate Watts
Pc Condenser pressure kN/m2 or Bar
Pe Evaporator pressure kN/m2 or Bar
W Rate of work done Watts
h Specific enthalpy kJkg-1
m Mass Flow Rate kgS-1
T Fluid Bulk Temperature °C
V Voltage Volts
I Current Amps
ρ Density kgm-3

OBJECTIVE:
Production of heat pump performance curves based on the HFCl34a properties at a variety of evaporating and
condensing temperatures.

DEFINITIONS:

Heat Pump
A Machine whose prime function is to deliver heat to a high temperature region (usually above ambient
temperature)
From the First Law of Thermodynamics it is apparent that a refrigerator must reject heat at a higher temperature
and the heat pump must take in heat at lower temperature.
Thus, there little difference between the two plants and both useful effects can be obtained from the same plant
(eg A Milk dairy plant need both refrigeration and hot water- both can be provided from the same plant)

Refrigerator
A Machine whose prime function is to remove heat from a low temperature region (usually below ambient
temperature.)

Coefficient of Performance (COP) of Heat Pump

Rate at which heat is delivered
Is the ratio
Power Input
COP of Refrigerator
Refrigerator rate /Duty(Heat removed)
This is the ratio
Power Input
THEORY:
Thermodynamic Aspects Of Heat Pumps
The second law of thermodynamics includes the statement, “It is impossible to transfer heat from a region at a
low temperature to another at a higher temperature without the aid of an external agency”
Heat pumps and refrigerators are examples of machines which transfer heat from a low to a high temperature
region and the “external agency” employed may be either work or high grade heat
The First Law of Thermodynamics states that in a cycle the net heat transfer is equal to the net work transfer.
Thus, for a heat pump, Heat transfer at low temperature + Heat transfer at high temperature = Work transfer. (The
normal sign convention must, of course, be applied)
In the case of a heat pump (or refrigerator) using a work input, (i.e. the vapour compression cycle), it follows that
heat transfer at low temperature + work input = heat transfer at high temperature.
If the external agency is high grade heat (i.e. the absorption cycle), then heat transfer at low transfer at low
temperature + heat transfers at higher temperatures = 0

Reversed Rankine cycle or Ideal Refrigeration cycle

An Ideal Refrigeration unit is modeled by a reversed carnot cycle, which is internally and externally reversible.
Figure-2 shows schematic diagram and T-s diagram of the cycle.
The refrigerant leaves the compressor at temperature T1 and enters to a compressor. The compressor increases
the energy content of the refrigerant and delivers it to a condenser at high pressure and temperature T3. The
fluid then cools in the condenser and returns back to the evaporator through an expansion device. In this cycle,
all the expansion and compression units are assumed to be reversible.
1-2 Isentropic compression in the compressor, 2-3 Constant pressure heat rejection in the condenser, 3-4
isentropic expansion, 4-1 Constant pressure heat addition in the evaporator.

Figure-2 Schematic and T-s diagram for an Ideal Refrigeration Cycle

Energy balance for the cycle:

Evaporator(wE=0):
q4, 1=qin =T1or4 (s4-s1)

Compressor (q1, 2= 0):

w1, 2 = (h1- h2)

Condenser (wE=0):
q3, 2=qout =T2or3 (s3-s2)

Expansion valve( q3,4= 0 , w3,4=0 ):

h3= h4 and s3=s4

Net work done

Wnet= q4, 1- q2, 3 = T2-T1 (s2-s1)

Coefficient of performance (Refrigeration):

Coefficient of performance (Heat pump):

Although the above cycle is more efficient than any other cycle, it is very difficult to achieve it practically
attributed to irreversibility in the real system. Hence, it is substituted by a new cycle called simple vapor
compression cycle where we have a throttling expansion valve with no work input. Figure-3 illustrates T-s
diagram of the new cycle.

Figure-3 T-s diagram for a simple vapor compression cycle

Energy balance for the cycle:

Evaporator(wE=0):
qe = (h1- h4) and

Compressor (q1, 2= 0):

w = (h2- h1) and

Condenser (w=0):
qe = (h2- h3) and

Expansion valve ( q= 0 , w=0 ):

h3= h4

Net work done

Wnet= q4, 1- q2, 3 = T2-T1 (s2-s1)

Coefficient of performance (Refrigeration):

heat is delivered at high temperature

Coefficient of Performance (COP) of Heat Pump is the ratio
Work Input
PROCEDURE
1. Turn on the water supply to the unit and turn on the main switch.
2. Select the water evaporator by pressing the evaporator change over switch up.
Ensure the evaporator water supply is flowing at or near, it’s maximum rate.
3. Adjust the condenser to a high water to a high flow rate.
4. When stability is reached, note the condenser pressure (P2) and the evaporation temperature (t.), then
make the observations set out below.
5. Reduce the condenser water flow rate so that the condenser pressure (P2) increases
by approximately 100 kN m-2. Adjust the source water flow rate until it returns to or near its initial
value. When stability is reached repeat the observations,
6. Repeat in increments of approximately 100N /m2 in the value of P2 until the pressure reaches about
1400 kN m-2 (gauge).
 7.
The test may now be repeated at another constant value of t4. Warmed water may be used as the heat
source if available. (Alternatively the source water flow rate may be reduced to decrease the value of
t4)
Note: If the evaporator water flows rate is too low it may freeze in the plate heat exchanger. The heat
exchanger is robust and no damage should result but repeated occurrences of this should be avoided.
Freezing will be indicated by the evaporator water flow ceasing and lack of control of the evaporator
temperature and pressure.
PROBLEMS:
Determinate
1- The heat delivered and compressor power based on water source.
2- Coefficient of performance based on water source
3- Curves based on the HFC13a properties at a variety of evaporating and condensing temperatures.

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:

P1 = .......... kN m-2 absolute

t1 = ..........°C
P2 = ........ kN m-2 absolute
t2 = °C
From p-h chart or tables:
h1 = ........ kJ kg-1
h2 = ...........kJ kg-1
h3 = h4 = ......... kJ kg-1
Evaporating temperature (te) = .........°C
Condensing temperature (tc) = ............°C
Heat transfer in condenser, = mr(h3 -h2)
This is from the HFC134a to the condenser water and by connection heat transfer to the system and work
transfers from the system are regarded as positive.
Electrical input to compressor = ...........Watts
(This is regarded as a work input to the system)

Heat delivered m r (h 3 - h 2 )
COPH = =
Work Input
Electrical input
It is of interest to compare the above with the CoP of the ideal cycle with isentropic compression.
From p-h chart: h1 = ............. kJ kg-1 as before
h2S = ..........kJ kg-1 Isentropic line from t1, p1 to p2
h3 = h4 = ...... kJ kg-1 as before
Heat delivered h 2S - h 3
COPH = =
Work Input
h 2S - h1
This discrepancy in the Coefficients of Performance is largely accounted for by one of the various losses in
the compressor unit and particularly I2R losses in the electric motor.
Note, however, that the heat delivered does not take into account the energy derived from the motor cooling
coil which will improve the actual COPH.
Calculated results data and the graphs are to be presented
Similar results may be determined for other evaporating temperatures and when using the air heat source.

DATA COLLECTION:
Observations

Date:

Atmospheric pressure: 1.05 Bar = 105 kNm-2 Heat Source: Air/Water (delete which is not required)
Atmospheric temperature: 21°C

Test 1 2 3 4 5 6
Electrical Electrical input to W/
Compressor Watts
Mass flow rate mr /g s -1
Compressor suction P1/kNm-2
gauge pressure
Compressor suction P1/kNm-2
absolute pressure
Condenser gauge P2/kNm-2
HFCl34a pressure
pressure Condenser absolute P2/kNm-2
Compressor suction T1 / °C
temperature
Compressor delivery T2/ °C
temperature
Condensed liquid T3 / °C
temperature
Evaporator inlet T4 / °C
temperature
Water Mass flow rate mg /gs -1
Compressor Inlet temperature T5/°C
Cooling Outlet temperature T6/ °C
Water Mass flow rate mg/gs-1
Condenser Inlet temperature T6/ °C
Cooling
Condenser outlet T7/ °C
Water Mass flow rate mg / g s -1
Source Inlet temperature T8 / °C
Evaporator Outlet temperature T9 / °C

DERIVED RESULTS

1 2 3 4 5 6
Compressor power W /Watts
Compressor suction h1 /kJ kg-1
Compressor delivery h2 /kJ kg-1
Compressor Outlet - (h2 –h1) /kJ
Evaporator outlet kg-1
Condensing tcond / °C =
temperature t3
Evaporating
teva / °C = t4
temperature

Heat transfer in
Qc kW
condenser Qc= mr (h3
–h2)
COP =Qc/ W

Result and Discussion:

Inference:

Note: Report to be submitted maximum 1 (one) week after the experiment

Sample Graphs:

Figure: Determination of h values using P-h chart

Figure : P-h chart for R134a