Process Engineering Lab
PE, ISM
MECHANICAL HEAT PUMP
OBJECTIVE
• Determination of Power Input, Heat Output and Coefficient of
Performance.
• Production of Heat pump performance curves over a range of
delivery temperatures at a constant source temperature.
• Comparison of Practical and Ideal cycles on a p-h diagram and
determination of energy balances for Condenser and Compressor.
THEORY
Mechanical Heat Pump exploits the physical properties of a volatile
evaporating and condensing fluid known as a refrigerant. It works on the
principle of Vapor Compression cycle. The Heat pump compresses the
refrigerant to make it hotter on the side to be warmed, and releases the
pressure at the side where heat is absorbed.
The thermodynamics of the vapour compression cycle can be
analyzed on a temperature versus entropy diagram as depicted in figure. At
point 1 in the diagram, the circulating refrigerant enters the compressor as a
saturated vapour. From point 1 to point 2, the vapour is isentropically
compressed (i.e., compressed at constant entropy) and exists the compressor
as a superheated vapour. From point 2 to point 3, the superheated vapour
travels through through part of the condenser which removes the superheat
by cooling the vapour. Between point 3 and point 4, the vapour travels
through the remainder of the condenser and is condensed into a saturated
liquid. The condensation process occurs at essentially constant pressure.
Between points 4 and 5, the saturated liquid refrigerant passes through the
expansion valve and undergoes an abrupt decrease of the pressure. That
process results in the adiabatic flash evaporation and auto refrigeration of a
portion of the liquid. The adiabatic flash evaporation process is isenthalpic
(i.e. occurs at constant enthalpy). Between points 5 and 1, the cold and
partially vapourised refrigerant travels through the coil or tubes in the
evaporator where it is totally vapourised by the warm air (from the space
being refrigerated) that a fan circulates across the coil or tubes in the
evaporator. The evaporator operates at essentially constant pressure. The
resulting saturated refrigerant vapour returns to the compressor inlet at point
1to complete the thermodynamic cycle. Given process is based on the ideal
1
vapour compression refrigeration cycle which does not take into account real
world items like frictional pressure drop in the system, slight internal
irreversibility during the compression of the refrigerant vapour, or non ideal
gas behavior.
Many industrial plants like Oil refineries, petrochemical and chemical
processing plants, and natural gas processing plants often utilize large vapor
compression refrigeration systems.
DESCRIPTION
A Heat pump is a machine whose prime function is to absorb heat
from a low grade source and deliver heat at a useful temperature, e.g.
suitable for space heating or domestic hot water, although higher
temperatures are possible in special circumstances.
To do this, heat pump requires,
(i) A low grade heat input (this is usually “free”)
(ii) A high grade energy input either in the form of work or
as heat at a high temperature.
This Mechanical heat pump is working on the principle of the vapour
compression cycle and having an electrically driven compressor. The low
grade heat source is air from the atmosphere. Heat delivered by the unit is in
the form of water at up to 600C. The work input is in the form of electrical
energy supplied to a hermitically sealed compressor, which is filled with
refrigerant Dichlorodifluoromethane CCl2F2 (R12). Electrical input to drive
the heat pump is measured by timing the integrating energy meter.
OPERATION
Vapour produced by the low grade heat input in the air/R12
evaporator is drawn off by the compressor. The compressor increases the
pressure of the R12 and delivers hot vapour to a water/R12 condenser where
it is liquefied, transferring heat to the water and increasing its temperature.
The high pressure R12 liquid is then throttled to a lower pressure as it passes
through a thermostatically controlled expansion valve to the evaporator,
where it is again converted to vapour.
2
OBSERVATION TABLE & CALCULATIONS:
Test 1 2 3 4 5
Electrical Time for 1 [Link] meter,x
Mass flow rate mr
----------
-1
gs
Compressor suction P1
(evaporator) pressure ------------
kN m-2
(gauge)
Compressor delivery P2
(condenser) pressure ------------
kN m-2
(gauge)
R12 Compressor suction t1
temperature -------
o
C
Compressor delivery t2
temperature -------
o
C
Condenser outlet t3
temperature -------
o
C
Evaporator inlet t4
temperature -------
o
C
Mass flow rate mw
-------
g s-1
Water Condenser inlet t5
(condenser) temperature -------
o
C
Condenser outlet t6
temperature -------
o
C
3
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Turn on the water supply to a high flow rate. Turn on the mains
switch. After a short period of ‘gassing’ in the R12 flow meter tube, the flow
rate should stabilize. The heat pump is now set to operate. Turn the
condenser water to about 20 g/sec flow rate, then allow the sufficient time to
stabilize the unit. When temperatures and pressures become steady, make
the observations. Keeping all parameters constant, increase the water flow
rate, again allow the heat pump to stabilize, and then repeat the observations.
FORMULAS TO BE USED
24000
* Power Input = -------- w
X
• Rate of Heat Delivery = mw ˟ cpw ˟ (t6 – t5)
• COP = Rate of Heat Delivery / Power Input
• Heat transfer from R12 = mr (h3 – h2)
• Heat transfer to water = mw ˟ cpw ˟ (t6 - t5)
• Enthalphy change of R12 = mr (h2 – h1)
The following assumptions are made:
• The pressure drop through the condenser is insignificant
Thus, P2 = P3
• The throttling process 3 – 4 is sensibly adiabatic
Thus, h3 = h4
*Specific capacity of water Cpw = 4.18 kJkg-1K-1
* 1kwh = 3.6 ˟ 106J
