DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF REFRIGERANT IN MICROCHANNEL COLLECTOR/EVAPORATOR OF DIRECT-EXPANSION SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMP

Kong Xiangqiang; Ma Tingdong; Ma Shanle; Li Ying; Li Jianbo

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2021-0010

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (8) : 236-244. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2021-0010

DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF REFRIGERANT IN MICROCHANNEL COLLECTOR/EVAPORATOR OF DIRECT-EXPANSION SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMP

Kong Xiangqiang, Ma Tingdong, Ma Shanle, Li Ying, Li Jianbo

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Abstract

In order to investigate the refrigerant distribution in a microchannel collector/evaporator and its influence on the performance of a direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump （DX-SAHP） system, an experimental setup of the DX-SAHP system using propane （R290） was built. Based on the experimental data, a method using infrared imaging technology to analyze the two-phase refrigerant distribution in the microchannel collector/evaporator was proposed. The effects of the electronic expansion valve opening, the solar radiation intensity and the ambient temperature on the two-phase refrigerant distribution in the collector/evaporator were obtained. The results show that when the electronic expansion valve opening increases from 20% to 60%, the refrigerant distribution parameter （RDP） of the microchannel collector/evaporator increases 10.6%, and the system coefficient of performance （COP） has also a marked increase from 2.8 to 5.5. The higher solar radiation intensity or ambient temperature can avoid the occurrence of refrigerant backflow in the microchannel collector/evaporator.

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solar energy / heat pump systems / infrared imaging / propane / microchannel collector/evaporator / refrigerant distribution

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Kong Xiangqiang, Ma Tingdong, Ma Shanle, Li Ying, Li Jianbo. DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF REFRIGERANT IN MICROCHANNEL COLLECTOR/EVAPORATOR OF DIRECT-EXPANSION SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMP[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2022, 43(8): 236-244 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2021-0010

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