Modeling, Design, and Testing of a Microchannel Split-System Air Conditioner

摘要

A steady-state microchannel split-system simulation model has been developed based onprevious research at the ACRC. This model was utilized as a design tool to optimize amicrochannel split system with the goal of minimizing TEWI, or total equivalent warmingimpact. The system components were then selected and the optimized microchannel heatexchangers were fabricated. Next, the entire system was assembled and extensive tests were runat steady state conditions over a wide range of outdoor ambient conditions in a calorimeter testfacility. The experimental results have been compared to the simulations for the purpose ofmodel refinement and its eventual validation. The full system model overpredicts the totalcapacity of the system with a minimum error of 0.2%, a mean error of 5%, and a maximum errorof 11 %. The evaporator submodel overpredicts the total capacity as well, with a minimum errorof 0.7%, a mean error of 7%, and a maximum error of 11%. The condenser submodel alsooverpredicts with a minimum error of 0.5%, a mean error of 2%, and a maximum error of 6%. Amajor reason for the lower accuracy with the evaporator is because of the refrigerantmaldisribution observed in the experiments. The model assumes perfect distribution, hence onereason for the overprediction of the system's capacity.