Potential of the zeotropic mixture R-22/R-142b in high-temperature heat pump water heaters with capacity modulation

Leon Liebenberg, Josua P. Meyer

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

A high-temperature electrically operated heat pump water heater is evaluated in terms of the viability of employing capacity control using zeotropic refrigerant mixtures. The system coefficient of performance (COP) is improved by introducing capacity control, which offers continuous modulation by varying heat pump capacity to match the load. This is accomplished by using a zeotropic refrigerant mixture and changing the composition (x) of the circulating mixture. The zeotrope R-22/R-142b is selected due to the requirements for a high condensing temperature and a wide capacity range. A comparison is made of the energy-saving potential of the R-22/R-142b mixture in a capacity-controlled heat pump, relative to an R-22 heat pump. Computer simulations show that the capacity-controlled heat pump, operating between compositions of 100% R-22 and 70% R-22, shows a 29.6% improvement in energy conversion when compared with a conventional R-22 heat pump water heater. An advanced heat pump water heater is proposed, which would exploit the advantages of using a zeotropic mixture.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)418-429
Number of pages12
JournalASHRAE Transactions
Volume104
Issue numberPt 1A
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 1998 ASHRAE Winter Meeting. Part 1 (of 2) - San Francisco, CA, USA
Duration: Jan 18 1998Jan 21 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Potential of the zeotropic mixture R-22/R-142b in high-temperature heat pump water heaters with capacity modulation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this