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.     

Re‐circulating heat pump assisted continuous bed drying and energy analysis

Specialty crops such as ginseng, herbs and echinacea need to be dried at low temperatures (30–35°C) for product quality optimization. A drying system that is both energy efficient and preserves product quality is desired. A re‐circulating heat pump continuous bed dryer system was designed, constructed and field‐tested for this purpose. The heat pump dryer system was experimentally evaluated using several potential herbal and medicinal crops such as alfalfa, catnip, wormwood, red clover, portulaca, dandelion and ginseng. These crops were dried either in chopped, sliced or whole form, depending on the part of the plant (aerial or root). The specific moisture extraction rates (SMER) obtained for various crops were in the range of 0.06–0.61 kg kWh^?1. It took 5 days and 190 kWh of energy to reduce the average moisture content of ginseng roots below 10% (wb), while commercial dryers currently in use would take on an average 14 days and 244 kWh of energy at comparable loading rates. The re‐circulating nature of the heat pump dryer made it 22% more energy efficient and resulted in 65% reduced drying time compared to conventional dryers incorporating electric coil heaters. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heat pump dryer Part 1: Simulation of the models

Heat pump dryer is a complex system because of the interaction of heat and mass transfer of the working fluids. Since the system cannot be completely close, ambient conditions (temperature and humidity) influence the performance of the system. To investigate the performance of the heat pump dryer thoroughly, simulation models of heat pump dryer components have been developed. The finite-difference method was employed in the simulation to examine the state of the working fluids and heat and mass transfer. The simulation of each component can be used to construct different system configurations the results of which are reported in Part 2.     

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.     

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.     

Exergetic performance assessment of a pilot‐scale heat pump belt conveyor dryer

In this study, olive leaves were dried in a pilot‐scale heat pump (HP) belt conveyor dryer as a thin layer. Drying experiments were carried out at the drying air temperature range of 45–55°C with the drying air velocity range of 0.5–1.5 m s⁻¹. The performance of the system and the process was evaluated using exergy analysis method. The exergy loss and flow diagram (the so‐called Grassmann diagram) of the dryer system was presented to give quantitative information regarding the proportion of the exergy input that is dissipated in the various system components. Effects of the drying air temperature and the velocity on the performance of the drying process were discussed. The actual coefficient of performance values were obtained to be 2.37 for the HP unit and 2.31 for the overall system, respectively. The most important component of the system for improving the efficiency was determined to be the compressor. Exergetic efficiencies of the drying of olive leaves were in the range of 67.45–81.95%. It was obtained that they increased as the drying air temperature decreased and the drying air velocity increased. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

污水源热泵系统的工程应用

污水源热泵系统以污水作为热源/热汇,通过热泵机组将污水中难以直接利用的热能提取出来。结合大型工程实例的设计及建设,依照系统的运行流程提出了工程各个部分的设计和建设中的要点问题。分析了系统流程,介绍了污水源的水量、水温的保证,取排水的建设,换热器的选择,热泵机房的设计。     

Cooling of spherical products: Part II—heat transfer parameters

This paper presents a study on the determination of the heat transfer parameters, namely surface heat transfer coefficients, thermal conductivities, thermal diffusivities, specific heats and Biot numbers, for the individual product being cooled with water and with air. An analytical model was developed to determine the surface heat transfer coefficients of the products depending on the thermal properties and cooling process parameters. The results of the present study indicate that surface heat transfer coefficients decrease with increasing batch weight in water cooling and increase with increasing air flow velocity in air cooling. The proposed model can be used to determine easily and accurately surface heat transfer coefficients of different spherically shaped objects subjected to cooling.     

用于污泥干燥的热泵试验研究

叙述了城市污泥干燥处理的必要性,对采用热泵形式进行干燥进行了理论分析,并对理论分析进行了实验验证。     

Simulation of double-stage double-effect metal hydride heat pump

This paper presents the operational characteristics of a double-stage double-effect metal hydride heat pump (DSDE-MHHP) working with LaNi_4.1Al_0.52Mn_0.38/LmNi_4.91Sn_0.15/Ti_0.99Zr_0.01V_0.43Fe_0.09Cr_0.05Mn_1.5 as high/medium/low temperature alloys. The performances of the DSDE-MHHP are predicted by solving the transient, two-dimensional, conjugate heat and mass transfer characteristics between the paired metal hydride reactors of cylindrical configuration using the finite volume method (FVM). The designed operating temperatures chosen for the present analysis are 568, 361, 296, and 289 K as heat driven (T_D), heat rejection (T_H), heat sink (T_M) and refrigeration (T_C) temperatures, respectively. The variations in hydrogen concentrations, hydride equilibrium pressures, and temperatures within the hydride beds, and the heat exchange between the hydride beds with the heat transfer fluids are presented for a complete cycle. The operating cycle of a DSDE-MHHP is explained on dynamic pressure–concentration–temperature (PCT) plot. The variation of temperatures in the reactors during hydriding and dehydriding processes is compared with experimental data and a good agreement was observed between them. For given operating temperatures of 568/361/296/289 K, the average coefficient of performance (COP) and the specific cooling power (SCP) of the system are found to be 0.471 and 28.4 W/kg of total hydride mass, respectively.     

Investigation of a combined solar–heat pump system for residential heating. Part 1: experimental results

In order to investigate the performance of the combined solar–heat pump system with energy storage in encapsulated phase change material (PCM) packings for residential heating in Trabzon, Turkey, an experimental set‐up was constructed. The experimental results were obtained from November to May during the heating season for two heating systems. These systems are a series of heat pump system, and a parallel heat pump system. The experimentally obtained results are used to calculate the heat pump coefficient of performance (COP), seasonal heating performance, the fraction of annual load meet by free energy, storage and collector efficiencies and total energy consumption of the systems during the heating season. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of evaporator-collector and air collector in solar assisted heat pump dryer

A solar assisted heat pump dryer has been designed, fabricated and tested. This paper presents the performance of the evaporator-collector and the air collector when operated under the same meteorological conditions. ASHRAE standard procedure for collector testing has been followed. The evaporator-collector of the heat pump is acting directly as the solar collector, and the temperature of the refrigerant at the inlet to the evaporator-collector always remained below the ambient temperature. Because of the rejection of sensible and latent heats of air at the dehumidifier, the temperature at the inlet to the air collector is lower than that of the ambient air. Hence, the thermal efficiency of the air collector also increases due to a reduction of losses from the collector. The efficiencies of the evaporator-collector and the air collector were found to vary between 0.8–0.86 and 0.7–0.75, respectively, when operated under the meteorological conditions of Singapore.     

太阳能辅助热泵干燥粮食的数值模拟研究

粮食的干燥过程实质上是多孔介质热湿耦合传递的过程。基于多孔介质热质传递理论,通过数值模拟的方法,针对利用太阳能辅助热泵干燥粮食时热风随时间变化的情况,采用综合温度和空气绝对湿度作为瞬态边界条件来对干燥过程中粮食内部温度和水分的变化进行模拟研究。模拟结果显示小麦水分在干燥150h后达到安全水分13.6%(干基),而实验结果显示小麦水分在干燥135h后达到安全水分13.6%(干基),二者对比相差不大,并且模拟温度与试验温度吻合较好。     

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.     

Recent progress in the adsorption heat pump technology

吸附热泵是一种以低品位热能驱动的节能环保型热泵技术,利用吸附剂与吸附质间的吸附热实现制冷或制热效果,从文献检索结果来看该技术越来越受到广泛关注,国内外相关学者开展了大量的研究工作.本文首先介绍了开展吸附热泵相关研究的课题组和其主要研究方向,进而简要介绍了吸附式热泵技术;其次,着重描述了吸附热泵技术的国内外研究现状,对吸附工质的研究,床层的传热传质强化,热泵新技术及商业化热泵产品等进行了详细的叙述;最后,叙述了吸附式热泵当前存在的主要问题,指出了吸附热泵发展存在的挑战性问题和未来的发展方向.     

地源热泵垂直埋管的传热模型及计算

建立了垂直埋管地源热泵地热换热器的传热模型,采用有限差分法建立了垂直U型埋管换热器瞬态传热模型的解析解;并且在不同的工况下进行实验测试,与模拟结果进行了对比,结果表明模拟与实验能较好地吻合,从而使模型的正确性得到了验证。可为地源热泵的设计和运行提供理论指导。     

Heat and mass transfer model of a ground heat exchanger: validation and sensitivity analysis

Validation of ground heat exchanger (GHE) model is presented using the experimental data obtained for both single and double pipe horizontal GHE. Sensitivity analysis of the GHE model shows the influence of the variation in the soil thermal conductivity, specific heat and density on the thermal performance of a GHE. Finally, the thermal performance of a GHE is analysed using both heat and mass transfer models, and conduction only model, as well as the influence of the initial soil moisture content on the thermal performance of a GHE. © 1998 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.     

A solar assisted heat pump drying system for grain in-store drying

For grain in-store drying, a solar assisted drying process has been developed, which consists of a set including a solar-assisted heat pump, a ventilation system, a grain stirrer, etc. In this way, low power consumption, short cycle time and water content uniformity can be achieved in comparison with the conventional method. A solar-assisted heat pump drying system has been designed and manufactured for a practical granary, and the energy consumption performance of the unit is analyzed. The analysis result shows that the solar fraction of the unit is higher than 20%, the coefficient of performance about system (COP_S) is 5.19, and the specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) can reach 3.05 kg/kWh.     

Performance analysis of an irreversible cogeneration heat pump cycle

An irreversible heat engine-driven vapour compression and absorption heat pump system is considered as a cogeneration cycle. The effects of thermal resistances and internal irreversibilities on the coefficient of performance (COP) of this cogeneration cycle were investigated using finite-time thermodynamic approach. An improved equation for the COP of the system under consideration was obtained. The results obtained here may serve as a good guide for the evaluation of existing real cogeneration heat pumps or provide some theoretical bases for the optimal design of future cogeneration heat pumps. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.