AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION TO PREDICT OPTIMUM CHARGE OF A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM

Abstract

Working principles of heat pumps is an important matter from a thermodynamic point of view that has been researched from various aspects. In this study, undercharged, optimum charged, and overcharged conditions of a heat pump were investigated using R134a refrigerant. Variations in temperature, pressure, and the coefficient of performance have been evaluated and it was aimed to find out the optimum charge condition considering different parameters. According to the experimentally obtained findings, the coefficient of performance was increased by more than three times when the refrigerant amount increased from 2000 g to ~ 7300 g. The general outcomes of the present study indicated that optimum refrigerant charge amount can notably affect the performance of heat pump apparatus. It was shown that the P-h diagram of all heat pump systems depends on the working conditions and the refrigerant charge is a very important criterion that can make significant changes in the P-h diagram. It was found that, by increasing refrigerant charge, after the downtrend starts in the compressor inlet temperature, 20% refrigerant can be added to achieve the maximum COP value. Additionally, the critical point in expansion valve outlet temperature was used to find the optimum charge. It was revealed that if 140% refrigerant is added to the given refrigerant at critical point, the optimum COP value can be achieved.