Experimental study of a subcritical heat pump booster for sanitary hot water production using a subcooler in order to enhance the efficiency of the system with a natural refrigerant (R290)

[EN] This paper presents the experimental results obtained from a new heat pump prototype for sanitary hot water production, in the application of heat recovery from water sources like sewage water or condensation loops (typical temperature condition between 10 degrees C and 30 degrees C). The system configuration is able to produce a high degree of subcooling in order to take advantage from the high water temperature glide (typical value for sanitary hot water production is 10 degrees C to 60 degrees C). Subcooling is made by using a separate heat exchanger from the condenser (subcooler). The obtained results have shown a high degree of improvement by making subcooling. COP is 5.61 in nominal conditions, which is about 31% higher than the same cycle working without subcooling (Nominal point: inlet/outlet water temperature at evaporator is 20 degrees C/15 degrees C and the water inlet/outlet temperature in the heat sink is 10 degrees C and 60 degrees C). (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and HR. All rights reserved.This work has been developed in the European Union Seventh Framework Programme by the project Next Generation of Heat Pump Technologies (NEXTGHP) grant agreement 307169. The authors give thanks for the given support. Part of the work presented was carried by Miguel Pitarch-Mocholi with the financial support of the Phd scholarship from the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Pitarch, M.; Navarro-Peris, E.; Gonzálvez-Maciá, J.; Corberán, JM. (2017). Experimental study of a subcritical heat pump booster for sanitary hot water production using a subcooler in order to enhance the efficiency of the system with a natural refrigerant (R290). International Journal of Refrigeration. 73:226-234. doi:10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.08.017S2262347