Exergetic performance assessment of a ground‐source heat pump drying system

In evaluating the efficiency of heat pump (HP) systems, the most commonly used measure is the energy (or first law) efficiency, which is modified to a coefficient of performance (COP) for HP systems. However, for indicating the possibilities for thermodynamic improvement, energy analysis is inadequate and exergy analysis is needed. This study presents an exergetic assessment of a ground‐source (or geothermal) HP (GSHP) drying system. This system was designed, constructed and tested in the Solar Energy Institute of Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. The exergy destructions in each of the components of the overall system are determined for average values of experimentally measured parameters. Exergy efficiencies of the system components are determined to assess their performances and to elucidate potentials for improvement. COP values for the GSHP unit and overall GSHP drying system are found to range between 1.63–2.88 and 1.45–2.65, respectively, while corresponding exergy efficiency values on a product/fuel basis are found to be 21.1 and 15.5% at a dead state temperature of 27°C, respectively. Specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) on the system basis is obtained to be 0.122 kg kW^?1 h^?1. For drying systems, the so‐called specific moisture exergetic rate (SMExR), which is defined as the ratio of the moisture removed in kg to the exergy input in kW h, is also proposed by the authors. The SMExR of the whole GSHP drying system is found to be 5.11 kg kW^?1 h^?1. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exergetic evaluation of drying of laurel leaves in a vertical ground-source heat pump drying cabinet

This paper is concerned with the exergy analysis of the single layer drying process of laurel leaves in a ground-source heat pump drying cabinet, which was designed and constructed in the Solar Energy Institute, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. The effects of drying air temperature on exergy losses, exergy efficiencies and exergetic improvement potential of the drying process are investigated. The results have indicated that exergy efficiencies of the dryer increase with rising the drying air temperature. Moreover, the laurel leaves are sufficiently dried at the temperatures ranging from 40 to 50°C with relative humidities varying from 16 to 19% and a drying air velocity of 0.5 m s⁻¹ during the drying period of 9 h. The exergy efficiency values are obtained to range from 81.35 to 87.48% based on the inflow, outflow and loss of exergy, and 9.11 to 15.48% based on the product/fuel basis between the same drying air temperatures with a drying air mass flow rate of 0.12 kg s⁻¹. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exergetic performance evaluation of heat pump systems having various heat sources

In this study heat pump systems having different heat sources were investigated experimentally. Solar‐assisted heat pump (SAHP), ground source heat pump (GSHP) and air source heat pump (ASHP) systems for domestic heating were tested. Additionally, their combination systems, such as solar‐assisted‐ground source heat pump (SAGSHP), solar‐assisted‐air source heat pump (SAASHP) and ground–air source heat pump (GSASHP) were tested. All the heat pump systems were designed and constructed in a test room with 60 m² floor area in Firat University, Elazig (38.41°N, 39.14°E), Turkey. In evaluating the efficiency of heat pump systems, the most commonly used measure is the energy or the first law efficiency, which is modified to a coefficient of performance for heat pump systems. However, for indicating the possibilities for thermodynamic improvement, inadequate energy analysis and exergy analysis are needed. This study presents an exergetic evaluation of SAHP, GSHP and ASHP and their combination systems. The exergy losses in each of the components of the heat pump systems are determined for average values of experimentally measured parameters. Exergy efficiency in each of the components of the heat pump systems is also determined to assess their performances. The coefficient of performance (COP) of the SAHP, GSHP and ASHP were obtained as 2.95, 2.44 and 2.33, whereas the exergy losses of the refrigerant subsystems were found to be 1.342, 1.705 and 1.942 kW, respectively. The COP of SAGSHP, SAASHP and GSASHP as multiple source heat pump systems were also determined to be 3.36, 2.90 and 2.14, whereas the exergy losses of the refrigerant subsystems were approximately 2.13, 2.996 and 3.113 kW, respectively. In addition, multiple source heat pump systems were compared with single source heat pump systems on the basis of the COP. Exergetic performance coefficient (EPC) is introduced and is applied to the heat pump systems having various heat sources. The results imply that the functional forms of the EPC and first law efficiency are different. Results show that Ex_loss,total becomes a minimum value when EPC has a maximum value. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exergetic performance assessment of a stenter system in a textile finishing mill

Drying of textiles is one of the energy‐intensive unit operations and stenters are the most widely used drying machines in textile finishing mills. This study reveals energetic and exergetic analysis of a stenter system in a textile finishing factory based on actual operational data. The system includes a stenter along with its circulating and induced draft fans, a hot oil boiler and an oil circulating pump. The exergy destructions in each of the components of the overall systems were determined for average values of experimentally measured parameters. Exergy efficiencies of the system components were determined which help in assessing their performance and to establish strategies for improvement. The exergetic efficiencies of the stenter and hot oil boiler were found to be 28.7 and 34.7%, respectively, while the overall exergy efficiency of the system was obtained to be 34.4%. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Maximum profit performance of a three‐heat‐reservoir heat pump

The operation of a three‐heat‐reservoir heat pump is viewed as a production process with exergy as its output. The relations between the optimal profit and COP (coefficient of performance), and the COP bound at the maximum profit of the heat pump are derived based on a general heat transfer law. The results provide a theoretical basis for developing and utilizing a variety of heat pumps. The focus of this paper is to search the compromised optimization between economics (profit) and the utilization factor (COP) for finite‐time endoreversible thermodynamic cycles. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

热泵干燥系统运行特性的有效能研究

热泵干燥能源消耗少，环境污染小，干燥品质高，适用范围广，是一种性能优良的种子干燥机械。从热力学第一、第二定律两方面分析了热泵干燥系统的节能优势所在，得出采用辅助冷凝器是闭式热泵干燥系统的理想方式；而且热泵干燥系统存在一个最佳的蒸发温度，可使系统除湿率和效率最大。     

Performance study of a heat pump dryer system for specialty crops—Part 2: Model verification

The experimental and predicted performance data of a heat pump dryer system is reported. Chopped alfalfa was dried in a cabinet dryer in batches and also by emulating continuous bed drying using two heat pumps operating in parallel. Results showed that alfalfa was dried from an initial moisture content of 70% (wb) to a final moisture content of 10% (wb). The batch drying took about 4.5 h while continuous bed drying took 4 h to dry the same amount of material. The average air velocity inside the dryer was 0.36 m s^?1. Low temperatures (30–45°C) for safe drying of specialty crops were achieved experimentally. The heat pump drying system used in this study was about 50% more efficient in recovering the latent heat from the dryer exhaust compared to the conventional dryers. Specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) was maximum when relative humidity stayed above 40%. The dryer was shown to be capable of SMER of between 0.5 and 1.02 kg kW^?1 h^?1. It was concluded that continuous bed drying is potentially a better option than batch drying because high process air humidity ratios at the entrance of the evaporator and constant moisture extraction rate and specific moisture extraction rate values can be maintained. An uncertainty analysis confirmed the accuracy of the model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exergetic performance evaluation of a combined heat and power (CHP) system in Turkey

This study deals with the exergetic performance assessment of a combined heat and power (CHP) system installed in Eskisehir city of Turkey. Quantitative exergy balance for each component and the whole CHP system was considered, while exergy consumptions in the system were determined. The performance characteristics of this CHP system were evaluated using exergy analysis method. The exergetic efficiency of the CHP system was accounted for 38.16% with 49 880 kW as electrical products. The exergy consumption occurred in this system amounted to 80 833.67 kW. The ways of improving the exergy efficiency of this system were also analysed. As a result of these, a simple way of increasing the exergy efficiency of the available CHP system was suggested that the valves‐I–III and the MPSC could be replaced by a 3500 kW‐intermediate pressure steam turbine (IPST). If the IPST is installed to the CHP system (called the modified CHP (MCHP) system), the exergetic efficiency of the MCHP system is calculated to be 40.75% with 53 269.53 kW as electrical products. The exergy consumption is found to be 77 444.14 kW in the MCHP system. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance assessment of contact heat pump drying

A comparative analysis is presented of a novel plate‐type isothermal heat pump dryer and a conventional adiabatic heat pump dryer. The energy performance and drying capacity of each dryer type is investigated subject to operational constraints on the maximum acceptable relative humidity and temperature of air passing over the product. The analysis demonstrates that for applicable products, a significant opportunity exists for improving the energy efficiency of heat pump drying, by a factor of 2–3 times compared with current adiabatic heat pump dryers. The moisture extraction rate is also increased in the contact heat pump dryer, by a similar factor. However, these improvements are shown to be sensitive both to the impact of product thickness on heat transfer and to the relative humidity constraint. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Energy analysis of hazelnut drying system‐assisted heat pump

In this experimental study, a proportional integral derivative (PID) controlled heat pump dryer was designed and manufactured. Heat pump dryer was tested drying of hazelnut and energy analyses were made. Drying air temperatures were changed as 50,45 and 40°C in the drying system. Drying air velocities were changed as 0.25 m s^?1 for 50°C, 0.32 m s^?1 for 45°C and 0.38 m s^?1 for 40°C. Heating coefficient of performance of whole system (COP_ws) of the heat pump dryer was calculated as 1.70 for 50°C, 1.58 for 45°C and 1.40 for 40°C drying air temperatures. Energy utilization ratio changed between 24 and 65% for 50°C, 17 and 63% for 45°C and 14 and 43% for 40°C drying air temperatures in the heat pump dryer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exergy assessment of an optimized capillary tube‐based transcritical CO2 heat pump system

A capillary tube‐based CO₂ heat pump is unique because of the transcritical nature of the system. The transcritical cycle has two independent parameters, pressure and temperature, unlike the subcritical cycle. A comparative study for various operating conditions, based on system COP and exergetic efficiency, of a capillary tube and a controllable expansion valve‐based transcritical carbon dioxide heat pump systems for simultaneous heating and cooling at 73 and 4°C, respectively, is presented here. Two optimized capillary tubes having diameter of 1.5 and 1.6 mm are compared with an equivalent controllable throttle valve. Heat transfer and fluid flow effects are included in the gas cooler and evaporator model and capillary tube employs the homogeneous flow model to simulate two‐phase flow. Subcritical and supercritical thermodynamic and transport properties of CO₂ are calculated employing a precision in‐house property code. Optimization of effective distribution of total heat exchanger area ratio between gas cooler and evaporator is investigated. The exergetic efficiency is better in case of the capillary tube than that of a controllable throttle valve‐based system. Capillary tube‐based system is shown to be quite flexible regarding changes in ambient temperature, almost behaving to offer an optimal pressure control just like the controllable expansion valve yielding both, maximum system COP and maximum exergetic efficiency. Relatively at a smaller diameter, the capillary tube exhibits better exergetic efficiency. Capillary tube length is the critical parameter that influences system optimum conditions. The exergy flow diagram exhibits that compressor, gas cooler and capillary tube contribute a larger share, in that order, to system irreversibility. It is fairly established in this study that a capillary tube can be a good engineering option for small capacity systems in lieu of an expansion valve, which has been thought of as the only possible solution to attain the pressure optimization, an important feature of all transcritical CO₂ systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance study of a heat pump dryer system for specialty crops—Part 1: Development of a simulation model

This research is concerned with the technology of heat pump assisted drying of specialty crops. A simplified procedure for modelling the performance of a low temperature heat pump dryer was developed. The system modelled consists of a vapour compression heat pump coupled to a continuous cross flow bed dryer. The model takes into account the detailed heat and mass transfer phenomena taking place in the heat pump and dryer circuits. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimum performance of a heat engine‐driven combined vapour compression–absorption–ejector heat pump

Optimum performance of an endoreversible heat engine‐driven heat pump cycle, based on a combination of an absorption cycle with a vapour and ejector compression cycles is investigated. This combination increases the performance of the conventional ejector and absorption cycles and provides high performance for heating. The analysis show that the combined heat pump cycle has a significant increase in system performance over the heat engine‐driven vapour compression or absorption heat pump cycle and heat engine‐driven combined vapour compression and absorption heat pump cycle. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exergetic performance assessment of a variable‐speed R404a refrigeration system

The goal of this study is to carry out exergy analyses for an experimental variable‐speed refrigeration system working with R404a in order to determine irreversibility rates and exergetic efficiencies of system components and the overall system. For this aim, an experimental refrigeration system was designed with a frequency inverter mounted on compressor electric motor. Controlling the rotational speed of the compressor with a frequency inverter is one of the best methods to vary the capacity of the refrigeration system. The experiments were made for different compressor electric motor frequencies. The results showed that at low‐frequency values, irreversibility rates of the system decreased and exergetic efficiencies were increased. In addition, the major irreversibility occurs in the compressor by 61.47–61.83% followed by condenser by 17.00–16.52%, evaporator by 12.39–13.73% and expansion valve by 6.24–6.76% for different compressor frequencies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of a new drying chamber for heat pump mint leaves dryer

Drying is an energy intensive and time consuming process, so reducing amount of demanded energy and drying time are important issues for drying technology. The main aim of this paper is to analyze the drying characteristics of mint leaves in a new cylindrical form of drying chamber at low drying air temperature and by emphasizing on energy analysis. The dryer consists of air source heat pump system, air to air heat recovery unit and proportional temperature controller. Experiments were performed at 2, 2.5 and 3 m/s air velocities and at 35 °C cabin inlet air temperature. Mint leaves were dried from 9 g water/g dry matter to 0.1 g water/g dry matter. Designed drying chamber, with three stainless steel cylinders in circular nested form, has a positive effect for drying technology. This system has some advantages such as: drying of product by accessing a uniform air flow and preventing spread of light weight samples like mint leaves over drying system. Calculations based on experimental data show that in the best case, by consuming 3.164 kWh energy in a heat pump with 3.94 coefficients of performance, 4.56 kWh energy had been gained by heat recovery unit. Average 48% of energy was saved by means of heat recovery unit. Effective moisture diffusivity values varied from 3.50E?11 to 5.88E?11 for mint leaves.     

Wastewater desalination system utilizing a low‐temperature heat pump

A wastewater desalination system based on a low‐temperature air source heat pump was developed and studied in this paper. The system consists of 2 main parts: the wastewater flow process and the heat pump cycle. A series of experiments were conducted on the system under different conditions, and the effect of the evaporation temperature was investigated. This system can reach equilibrium at any evaporation temperature using the combination of the compressor and vacuum pump. To treat wastewater with low boiling point organic matter, the system was operated at a low evaporation temperature of 48°C. The organic matter remained in the concentrated wastewater, and the organic removal was approximately 97%. Three kilograms of treated water was produced in 1 hour with an energy consumption of 250 W. The performance ratio (PR) obtained from the experiments ranged from 4.6 to 7.3. The cost for treating 1 kg of water was 0.038 yuan CNY assuming 0.5 yuan CNY per kWh at the compressor frequency of 50 Hz.     

Heat pump dryer Part 3: experimental verification of the simulation

Heat pump dryer (HPD) performance described by computer simulation results in Parts 1 and 2 of this series of papers is here verified by experiments. An HPD designed to be operated in four configurations—two open systems and two partially closed systems—has been built. The variables in the experiments are the air flow rate, the dryer load, the ambient condition (day and night) and, for the partially closed systems, the recirculation air ratio and the evaporator bypass air ratio. The parameters used for the verification are the compressor power, the properties of air entering the dryer, the coefficient of performance, the moisture extraction rate and the specific moisture extraction rate. It is found that the experimental results agree with the simulation results within an acceptable error tolerance. In order to predict the HPD performance accurately, a fine tuning of the compressor model and the pressure drop in two-phase flow of the refrigerant are recommended. © 1997 by John Wiley & sons, Ltd.     

Thermal performance of a solar-assisted heat pump drying system with thermal energy storage tank and heat recovery unit

Thermal performance parameters for a solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) drying system with underground thermal energy storage (TES) tank and heat recovery unit (HRU) are investigated in this study. The SAHP drying system is made up of a drying unit, a heat pump, flat plate solar collectors, an underground TES tank, and HRU. An analytical model is developed to obtain the performance parameters of the drying system by using the solution of heat transfer problem around the TES tank and energy expressions for other components of the drying system. These parameters are coefficient of performances for the heat pump (COP) and system (COPs), specific moisture evaporation rate (SMER), temperature of water in the TES tank, and energy fractions for energy charging and extraction from the system. A MATLAB program has been prepared using the expressions for the drying system. The obtained results for COP, COPs, and SMER are 5.55, 5.28, and 9.25, respectively, by using wheat mass flow rate of 100 kg h⁻¹, Carnot efficiency of 40%, collector area of 100 m², and TES tank volume of 300 m³ when the system attains periodic operation duration in fifth year onwards for 10 years of operation. Annual energy saving is 21.4% in comparison with the same system without using HRU for the same input data.     

水循环式热泵干燥装置的分析

热泵干燥装置具有节约能源、环境友好、可低温干燥等特点。水循环式热泵干燥装置是指热泵和干燥部分通过水循环耦合而成的热泵干燥装置,与热泵和干燥部分直接耦合相比,具有不向环境排放热量、机组调控性好、对干燥过程的匹配性好、成本低等优势,是一种较适宜于中小型热泵干燥装置的结构型式。     

Optimal performance characteristics of a solar-driven heat pump at maximum COP

The effect of the irreversibility of finite-rate heat transfer on the performance of a solar-driven heat pump is investigated by using the theory of finite time thermodynamics. Maximizing the COP of the system leads to some novel rules for the optimum choices of primary performance parameters, such as the operating temperatures of the solar collector and the working fluid in the heat exchangers and the heat transfer areas of the heat exchangers. These rules can guide the evaluation of existing real solar-driven heat pumps or influence the design of future solar-driven heat pumps.