The ejector cycle has been recognized as a promising cycle for the utilization of solar energy for cooling. However, the conventional ejector cycle suffers from low efficiency owing to a low evaporation temperature. This paper proposes a hybrid ejector-vapor compression heat pump cycle. This hybrid system uses an ejector cycle on the hightemperature side and a conventional vapor compression cycle on the low-temperature side to enhance the cycle performance of a solar-powered air conditioner. A cycle simulation showed that the proposed hybrid ejector cycle could operate during both the heating and cooling seasons and would provide energy savings. In heating mode, the hybrid cycle could reduce energy consumption by up to 50%. In addition, the average energy-saving potential during the cooling season is about 20%, if half of the floor area is covered by the solar collector.
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