Performance comparison of air-source heat pump water heater with different expansion devices

摘要

Air source heat pump water heater (ASHPWH) is designed to work under wide operating conditions. Therefore, both the system and components require higher reliability and stability than ordinary heat pump air-conditioning systems. In this paper, a quasi-steady-state system model of ASHPWH using electronic expansion valve (EEV), capillary tube or short tube orifice as expansion device is developed and validated by a prototype using R134a and scroll compressor, by which the system performance is evaluated and compared at varying water temperature and different ambient temperature. Flow characteristics of those three expansion devices in ASHPWH are comparatively analyzed. Results show that the EEV throttling system performs best. Compared with capillary tube, flow characteristics of short tube orifice are closer to that of EEV and therefore more suitable for ASHPWH. Reliability concern of liquid carryover to the compressor in the system using short tube orifice is investigated as well. Higher superheat or less system refrigerant charge could help mitigate the risk. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.