A new experimental test rig for performance analysis of radial compressors inside innovative heat pumps

Abstract

Abstract Electrification is playing a major role in the industrial and energy sector, with heat pump (HP) market expected to grow significantly in the next future in accordance with the current energy transition phase, which aims to reduce the utilization of fossil fuels for heat production sector. It is therefore of crucial importance to find new ways to increase heat pump performance and reliability, containing maintenance costs. The use of dynamic compressors in HPs makes it possible to combine good performance with high compactness and silent operation, but unlike the volumetric compressor, this equipment could undergo dangerous instability during operation, which can occur in closed-cycle configuration, quite unusual for dynamic compressors. The aim of this paper is to present a new test-rig for stable and unstable performance analysis of dynamic compressors for innovative heat pumps. An in-depth description of the plant and instrumentation system is provided. The performance of the compressor is analyzed for different operating points, with a particular focus on near-surge operation. Experimental uncertainties and their reduction through data reconciliation techniques is thoroughly investigated.