Capacity and Efficiency in Variable Speed, Vapor Injection and Multi-Compressor Systems

Jain, S.; Bullard, C.W.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/12318 Copy

Description

Title

Capacity and Efficiency in Variable Speed, Vapor Injection and Multi-Compressor Systems

Author(s)

• Jain, S.
• Bullard, C.W.

Issue Date

2004-05

Keyword(s)

• component design tradeoffs
• system design tradeoffs

Abstract

Air conditioning and refrigeration systems are designed to meet the load at some particular design conditions. At off-design conditions, the compressor is either cycled or a variable speed drive enables the compressor to run at a speed that matches the load. However, cycling can incur efficiency losses as large as 10-20% of total compressor power. Similarly, the variable speed compressors suffer from an efficiency penalty as a result of the losses in the inverter drive (4-6%). Part 1 of this report focuses on the use of tandem compressors, that is, a combination of two or more compressors running in parallel with each other, to more closely match the load at different conditions. Simulation models were run for various operating conditions and the results from the tandem simulations were compared with the single speed and the variable speed compressor results, showing a significant COP over the single speed case and a smaller improvement over the variable speed case. Temperature data from Pittsburgh and Dallas was then incorporated, and the optimum compressor sizing and operating strategies were compared. Results again showed a COP gain of 7.5% and 6.2% for the two cities, respectively, over the case of a single-speed compressor, and 2.2% and 2.0% compared to a variable-speed compressor. Part 2 focuses on vapor injection in case of scroll compressors used in air-conditioning and refrigeration applications. Vapor injection alters the normal refrigeration cycle by adding an injection port to the scroll compressor. After partial expansion upstream of the evaporator, refrigerant vapor is injected into the compressor. It saves compressor energy because that fraction of the flow needs only partial compression, and saves compressor volume because less vapor enters the suction port and the refrigerating effect increases due to the lower inlet quality. Simulation models were run for different operating conditions and it was discovered that for systems sized to meet the same design load, the VI systems had a higher COP of around 8-10%, for air-conditioning applications. Similarly for the refrigeration case, the VI system registered a COP increase of as much 16%. VI systems also helped in reducing the compressor displacement by around 25% in the air-conditioning and 30% in the refrigeration case respectively.

Publisher

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center. College of Engineering. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Series/Report Name or Number

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center TR-227

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/12318

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Project 148

Owning Collections