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A novel defrosting method using heat energy dissipated by the compressor of an air source heat pump

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  • Long, Zhang
  • Jiankai, Dong
  • Yiqiang, Jiang
  • Yang, Yao

Abstract

When an air source heat pump (ASHP) unit is used for space heating at low ambient temperatures in winter, frost may form on its outdoor coil surface. Since the accumulated frost adversely affects its performance and energy efficiency, periodic defrosting of the outdoor coil is necessary. Currently, the reverse-cycle defrosting (RCD) method is widely used for the defrosting of ASHP. However, this operation interrupts space heating during the defrosting process. A time lag occurs to resume heating at end of the defrosting cycle. Moreover, frequent reversing of the 4-way valve may cause mass leakage of the refrigerant, even make the system unsafe. Furthermore, some amount of heat is dissipated to the atmosphere through the compressor casing. To improve the defrosting process and use this waste heat, a novel ASHP unit is developed. The space is heated during the defrosting process using the heat dissipated by the compressor. Experiments using both the RCD method and the novel reverse cycle defrosting (NRCD) method developed in this study are conducted on an ASHP unit of 8.9kW nominal heating capacity. The experimental results indicated that in the NRCD method, the discharge and suction pressures are increased by 0.33MPa and 0.14MPa, respectively, the defrosting time is shortened by 65% while the resuming heating period vanished with the NRCD method, and that the total energy consumption in comparison to RCD method is reduced by 27.9% during the period which is composed of defrosting period and resuming heating period. Moreover, the NRCD method ensured continuous heating during defrosting. The mean temperature difference between the air entering and leaving the indoor coil reaches 4.1°C during defrosting. Over a test period of 125min, compared to RCD method, the total heating capacity and input power are increased by 14.2% and 12.6%, respectively. The increase in the system COP is 1.4%.

Suggested Citation

  • Long, Zhang & Jiankai, Dong & Yiqiang, Jiang & Yang, Yao, 2014. "A novel defrosting method using heat energy dissipated by the compressor of an air source heat pump," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 101-111.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:133:y:2014:i:c:p:101-111
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.07.039
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Byrne, Paul & Miriel, Jacques & Lenat, Yves, 2011. "Experimental study of an air-source heat pump for simultaneous heating and cooling – Part 2: Dynamic behaviour and two-phase thermosiphon defrosting technique," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(9), pages 3072-3078.
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    3. Qu, Minglu & Pan, Dongmei & Xia, Liang & Deng, Shiming & Jiang, Yiqiang, 2012. "A study of the reverse cycle defrosting performance on a multi-circuit outdoor coil unit in an air source heat pump – Part II: Modeling analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(1), pages 274-280.
    4. Jang, Ji Young & Bae, Heung Hee & Lee, Seung Jun & Ha, Man Yeong, 2013. "Continuous heating of an air-source heat pump during defrosting and improvement of energy efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 9-16.
    5. Qu, Minglu & Xia, Liang & Deng, Shiming & Jiang, Yiqiang, 2012. "A study of the reverse cycle defrosting performance on a multi-circuit outdoor coil unit in an air source heat pump – Part I: Experiments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(1), pages 122-129.
    6. Qu, Minglu & Xia, Liang & Deng, Shiming & Jiang, Yiqiang, 2012. "An experimental investigation on reverse-cycle defrosting performance for an air source heat pump using an electronic expansion valve," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 327-333.
    7. Kaygusuz, Kamil, 1994. "Performance of an air-to-air heat pump under frosting and defrosting conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 225-241.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Fenghao & Wang, Zhihua & Zheng, Yuxin & Lin, Zhang & Hao, Pengfei & Huan, Chao & Wang, Tian, 2015. "Performance investigation of a novel frost-free air-source heat pump water heater combined with energy storage and dehumidification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 212-219.
    2. Oh, Seungjae & Wang, Semyung & Cho, Sungman, 2015. "Development of Energy Efficiency Design Map based on acoustic resonance frequency of suction muffler in compressor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 233-244.
    3. Xu, Wei & Liu, Changping & Li, Angui & Li, Ji & Qiao, Biao, 2020. "Feasibility and performance study on hybrid air source heat pump system for ultra-low energy building in severe cold region of China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 2124-2133.
    4. Qv, Dehu & Ni, Long & Yao, Yang & Hu, Wenju, 2015. "Reliability verification of a solar–air source heat pump system with PCM energy storage in operating strategy transition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 46-55.
    5. Yi Zhang & Guanmin Zhang & Aiqun Zhang & Yinhan Jin & Ruirui Ru & Maocheng Tian, 2018. "Frosting Phenomenon and Frost-Free Technology of Outdoor Air Heat Exchanger for an Air-Source Heat Pump System in China: An Analysis and Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-36, October.
    6. Konrad, Mary Elizabeth & MacDonald, Brendan D., 2023. "Cold climate air source heat pumps: Industry progress and thermodynamic analysis of market-available residential units," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

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