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Data-driven compressor performance maps and cost correlations for small-scale heat-pumping applications

2023; Elsevier BV; Volume: 291; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.energy.2023.130171

1873-6785

Andreas V. Olympios, Jian Song, Aleksander Ziolkowski, Vethalingam S. Shanmugam, Christos N. Markides,

Heat Transfer and Optimization

The performance of vapour-compression heat pumps depends crucially upon the compressor selection and design. In this work, a unified modelling framework is developed to enable technoeconomic comparisons of compressors intended for small-scale heating applications (<30 kWth). Published information for 120 commercially available compressors is analysed and used to develop performance maps that predict isentropic efficiency across a wide range of working conditions. Additionally, cost correlations are established to predict price as a function of nominal compressor inlet volumetric flowrate. When rotary-vane compressors are an available option (i.e., for inlet volumetric flowrates up to 5 ∙ 10−3 m3/s), they consistently achieve a high isentropic efficiency (∼70 %) for the investigated pressure ratios (1.5–9.5). Scroll compressors have an even higher isentropic efficiency (∼75 %) at pressure ratios below 5.5, but this drops down to 50 % at higher pressure ratios, while the isentropic efficiency of reciprocating-piston compressors is best (∼75 %) at high pressure ratios (5.5–7.5). Utilising an air-source heat pump model, the compressor types are compared for countries with different weather characteristics and electricity prices. Rotary-vane compressors are associated with the lowest levelised cost of heat, but the comparison largely depends on location and heating requirements.